UlBRARY OF CONGRESS.! 



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9 



f UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.! 



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TRAVELER'S 6UIDE 




FROM 



NEW YORK TO PHILADELPHIA, 

AND FROM 

PHILADELPHIA TO NEW YORK, 

BY STB AM BOAT AND RAIL ROAD t 

^CONTAINING 

Brief Notices of New York, Jersey City, Newark, Elizabethtown, Rah- 1 
way, New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, South Amboy, Princeton, Trenton, 
Jiordentowii, Burlington, Bristol, Camden and Philadelphia ; descriptiona 
of all the points of interest on the steam-boat and rail-road routes; 
between New York and Philadelphia ; together with a list of the prin- 
cipal Hotels in the cities and towns ; rates of cab-hire ; and a variety] 
of other information of importance to travelers. 



BY BBNJAMIIV MATTHIAS. 



jiLADELPHiA.— For Sale by James Harmstcad, 38| N. Fourth Street:' 
and by Booksellers generally. 

New York.— For sale by M. Y. Beach, office of" The Sun," eoraer 
of Fulton and Nassau street. 

1844. 



THE 

TRAVELER'S GUIDE 



FROM 



NEW YORK TO PHILADELPHIA, 

AMD FROM 

PHILADELPHIA TO NEW YORK, 

., BY STEAM BOAT AND RAIL ROAD : 

CONTAINING 

Brief Notices of New York, Jersey City, Newark, Elizabethtown, Rail- 
way, New Brunswick, Eerth Amboy, South Aniboy, Princeton, Trenton, 
Bordentown, Burlington, Bristol, Camden and Philadelphia; descripiions 
of ail the points of interest on the steam-boat and rail-road routes 
between New York and Philadelphia; together with a list of the prin- 
cipal Hotels in the cities and towns ; rates of cab-hire; and a variety 
of other information of importance to travelers. 



BY BEJVJAMIN MATTHIAS. 



Philadelphia.— For sale by Godey & McMichael, 101 Chesnut street; 

Burgess & Zeiber, No. 3 Ledger Huilding; James Harmstead, 

38J N. Fourth street: and by Booksellers generally. 

New York —For sale by M. Y. Beach, office of" The Sun," corner 

of Fulton and Nassau street. 

1843. 



NOTE. 



Excursion passengers from Pliiladelphia to New York bay, will find the 
outside trip from Amhoy to New York, noticed on page 75. 



PREFACE. 

The compiler l)egs to tender his sincere thanks to the Captains, Ag(;nts, 
and Conductors eniingtid on the steam-boat and rail-road lines referied 
to in this work, for their kindness in furnishing him with many of the 
facts here given. To several he is especially indebted for information 
which he found it difficult to obtain elsewhere, and to all he is under much 
obligation for their courteous treatment and polite answers to his numer- 
ous inquiries, as well as for their generous efforts in facilitating his gene- 
ral project. 

The employment of suitable persons to manace a traveling route is a 
matter of deep concern to the traveling community, and the compiler be- 
lieves that all who are in the habit of passing over the routes between 
New York and Philadelphia, will agree with him in opinion, that the offi- 
cers engaged in their management are eminently distinguished for capa- 
bility, as well as courtesy of manners, and a polite and obliging disposi- 
tion. These qualities amply guarantee the comfort and gratification of the 
traveler. 



Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by Benjamin 
Matthias, in the office of the Clerk of the District Court of the United 
States, in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



J. VAN COUIIT, PniXTKP, aUAUHT ST., NKAIl SECOXD. 



: (?6 



THE 



FROM 



lOMK TO PHILADELPHIA, 



ROUTE FROM NEW YORK TO SOUTH AiMBOY, 

BY STEAM-BOAT. 

nif'For route from Philadelphia to New York, see page 33. 




The boats belongin*^ to the Company, at this end of 
the line, are the Independence, Capt. Forbes, and the 
Swan, Capt. Fish. Both are excellent boats, and com- 
manded by gentlemanly and experienced navigators. 
The Swan is now used, principally, as a transportation 
boat. 

Leaving the wharf, near the Battery, in the com- 
modious and elegant steamer Independence, our first 
business is to see that our baggage is carefully placed 
in the baggage cars, and the next to step to the Cap- 



4 THE TRAVELER S GUIDE, 

tain's office, and settle the fare. This over, we have 
leisure to ohserve that the boat is pursuing a south-west 
course across the beautiful bay, leaving- behind the vast 
forests of masts on the North and East rivers, the hun- 
dreds of steamers and small craft plying about the wa- 
ters, and ihe bustle and confusion of the great city of 
Gotham. On the left we pass Governor's Island, 
containing about seventy acres, upon which are Fort 
Columbus and Castle Williams. The former is a 
strong work in the shape of a star, on the south side 
of the island ; the lattter is on the north-west point of 
the island, built of stone, in a circular form, six hun- 
dred feet in circumference, sixty feet in height, and 
with three tiers of guns. On the right is Gibbet Isl- 
and, formerly a place where criminals were executed, 
and the spot upon which Gibbs was hung for piracy. 
Just beyond, on the same side, is Bedloe's Island, 
upon which is a substantial fortification, lately much 
improved. This is a most beautiful place in the sum- 
mer season. Below Governor's Island, on the left, is 
Red Hook, and between the two places is Butter- 
milk Channel, leadino; into the East river. The 
depth of water is sufficient for vessels of the largest 
class. 

The land on our right hand is New Jersey ; on our 
left. Long Island. 

We have here, on our left, abeautiful view of " The 
Narrows," being; the outlet to the sea for New York 



Bay, between Long Island and Staten Island. The 
Narrows are about eight miles from the city, and one- 
third of a mile in width. On the eastern, or Long Isl- 
and shore, are Forts Hamilton and Lafayette, the latter 
of which is built on a reef of rocks, two hundred yards 
from the shore, where the former is situated, and has 



FROM NEW-YORK TO PHILADELPHIA.. O 

three tiers of guns. On the Staten Island side are two 
fortresses, called Fort Tompkins and Fort Richmond. 
The United States Government has, since the last war 
with Great Britain, paid particular attention to tliese 
fortifications, and they are now considered amply suf- 
ficient for the defense of this important passage. A 
Telegraph has been established on the heights of Sta- 
ten Island, communicating by signals, with one in the 
business part of New York city, which gives early in- 
telligence of arrivals or important events, when desired. 
The view of the Narrows is, at all times, exceedingly 
attractive. 

Our boat continues in a south-west course, until we 
reach the Light-House, on Robbin's Reef, distant 
from New York about six miles. The reef or flat ex- 
tends from the Jersey shore. The Light-house was 
erected about four years since. Here we incline more 
to the west, and very soon approach an arm of the sea 
called "The Kills," running between Bergen county, 
(N. J.) on the right, and Staten Island on the left. 

Two and a half miles north of the bluff on Staten 
Island, on the left, is the Quarantine ground, where 
is usually to be seen, in warm weather, a great num- 
ber of vessels lying at anchor, mostly from foreign 
ports, performing sanatary regulations, in order to 
prevent the diseases of foreign countries from infecting 
the commercial emporium. The quarantine ground 
is about five miles in circumference. Close by is the 
village of ToMPKiNsviLLE, very pleasantly situated on 
the shore facing the bay. Steam-boats run, several 
times daily, between here and New York. On the 
north of the village are situated three spacious hospitals 
to the Lazaretto. The buildings and grounds are 
finely situated on rising ground, and show to great ad- 
a* 



6 THE traveler's GUIDE, 

vantage from the water. The villag-e contains a num- 
ber of stores and taverns, churches for Methodists, 
Episcopalians and Presbyterians, and about one hun 
dred and fifty dwellings. 

Having fairly entered the " Kills," we have imme 
diately on our left, the beautiful village of New Brigh- 
ton, a favorite summer residence for affluent families 
from New York. The grounds and buildings in this 
fashionable place of resort, display much taste and ele- 
gance. The Brighton Pavilion, situated near the 
steam-boat landing, is a large and splendid editice, ca- 
pable of accommodating a large number of visitors. A 
fine bathing establishment is erected near the hotel, for 
the convenience of the public who resort hither for 
health or amusement. An excellent seminary for 
young ladies, is established at Brighton. The steam- 
boat fare, between New Brighton and New York, is 
usually 122 cents. 

The point on the right, is called Constable's Point, 
near which an effort was made, some years since, to 
establish a Navy Yard, but the project signally failed. 
This stretch of land is called Bergen Neck, being ihe 
lower part of Bergen county.* 

Passing New Brighton, we approach on the same 

ide, the extensive building known as the"S\iLOR's 

Snug Harbor." This noble institution was founded 

* Bergen county is about thirty miles long, and twenty- 
five broad, and forms a portion of the eastern part of the State 
of New Jersey. The land is generally rough, hilly and 
mountainous. There is a copper mine in the count3% which 
was formerly productive, but it has been neglected for many 
years. This section of country was originally settlerl by 
the Dutch. The present population of Bergen county is 
13,223. 



4i 



FROM NEW- YORK TO PHILADELPHIA. 7 

by the will of Capt. Robert R. Randell, in 1801, who 
beqiieatlied a large landed estate in New York, the in- 
come of which was to be expended in supporting aged 
and disabled seamen. The number of inmates, at pre- 
sent, is between fifty and sixty, all old veterans, Avho 
in this establishment find a most comfortable retreat 
from the cares and toils of life. Immediately opposite, 
on the right, is North IT^ast Harbor, a safe retreat 
for vessels in a north-east gale. 

The next village on the left, is called Factoryville. 
It contains nearly one hundred dwellings, besides sev- 
eral extensive manufactories, including a large dyeing 
and printing establishment. This is quite a flourish- 
ing place.* 

Half a mile beyond Factoryville is another village 
called Port Richmond, containing a Bank, three 
churches, several stores, and about sixty dwellings. 
Several whaling vessels are owned by citizens of 
this place. Further on, on the same side, is a small 
village called Johnson's Dock, near to which is a land- 
ing called Quarry Dock. A large and very fine 
quarry of grey granite, lies about a mile and a half in 

* Staton Ifland is celebrated for containing a number of 
beautiful sites for elegant tnan^:ions, as well as for its valu- 
able farms, and the substantial character of its inhabitants. 
The island is hilly, and in some places quite rouo-h, bnt the 
industry of its population has made the land exceeciino-Iy pro- 
ductive. Along the route we are now travelincr, every ap- 
pearance indicates comfort and happiness. The island is 
about eighteen miles in length, and has a medium breadth of 
between six and seven miles. The inhabitants are chiefly 
descendants of the Dutch and French, and are noted for their 
hoppitalitv to strangers. The population of the whole island 
is about 11,000. 



8 THE traveler's GUIDE, 

the rear. Oyster boats and other small craft, are built 
at Johnson's Dock. 

Soon after passing this, we have on the left Bergen 
Point, and a fine view of Newark Bay, with the city 
of Newark in the distance. The bay is navigable up 
to the city of Newark, a distance of about ten miles. 
'J'he little island at the mouth of the bay is called 
Shooter's Island, immediately opposite wiiich, on 
the Staten Island side, is HollIx\'s Hook, a small vil- 
lage, built up principally by boatmen.* 

Here terminate " the Kills," and we next enter a 
narrow and crooked stream of water, extending from 
Newark bay to the bay of the Raritan river, called 
Stvtk.n Island Sound. At the entrance there are ex- 
tensive flats on each side of the channel, but just be- 
yond, the depth of water is sufficient for very large 
vessels. This stream we follow the whole distance to 
Perth Amboy, where is also the termination of Staten 
Island. About a mile and a half from Shooter's Isl- 
and, is Elizabkthport, anew and thriving settlement, 
already containing several large and important manu- 
factories, among which are iron works, rope walks, 
chair factories, &c. A rail-road extends from here to 
Somerville, a distance of seventeen miles. Eliza- 
bethport contains one or two churches, three or four 
hotels, and over one hundred dwellings. Daily inter- 
course with New York is maintained by steam-boats 
and rail-road. 

Elizabethport is situated at the mouth of Elizabeth- 

* Beyond Shooter's Isliind, the navigation is sometimes, 
at very low tides, exceeilinofly difficult: and the steam-tioats 
riinnino- to Amboy are occasionally oblio-ed to make tiie outer. 
trip, that is, run outside of Staten Island, The outside trip 
is also taken when the navigation is obstructed by ice. 



FROM NEW-YORK TO PHILADELPHIA. 9 

town creek, a small stream extending up to, and be- 
yond the town of that name. It is fifteen miles fronni 
New York, or half way between New York and Am- 
boy. 

Here commences an extensive range of flats, called 
Salt Meadows, which extend on each side of the 
river for about two miles. While going through the 
meadows, an extensive view of the country is afford- 
ed, but the prospect is deficient in interest.* The 
Sound, as well as Newark bay, is celebrated for its 
fine oysters, the business of procuring and selling 
which, affords employment to a large number of per- 
sons. 

Two miles from Elizabethport we pass, on the 
right, a small barren island called Buckwheat Island, 
just beyond which is another, of larger dimensions, 
called Duncan's Island. This also is barren, or cov- 
ered only with salt meadows. Here, on the left, is 
Crawl's River, a small stream leading to the village 
of Ohelsea, which we pass, near the shore, about a 
mile further. The river forms the island. Chelsea 
contains a number of very neat and comfortable dwell- 
ing's. Just beyond Chelsea, on the right, is the 
mouth of Rahway River, leading up to the town of 
Rahway, about three miles distant. Here the pros- 
pect greatly improves — the land is higher and more 

* Nevertheless, the whole trip from New York to Am boy, 
by this route, is, in the summer season, exceedingly attract- 
ive. Indeed, few routes in our country, of the same lencrrh, 
can surpass this, taken as a whole, for beautiful scenery, 
charming villages, elegant country seats, and general points 
of interest. The steam-boat is usually from two to two and 
a quarter hours in making the trip between New York and 
Am boy. 



10 



THE TRAVELER S GUIDE. 



undulating, and the general aspect of the country is 
smiling and cheerful. 

About two and a half miles from Chelsea, on the 
left, is a small creek called Fresh Kills, leading up 
to Richmond, the capital of the county of that name, 
distant between two and three miles. Richmond con- 
tains the coimty buildings, consisting of a court-house 
and jail ; both small, but of sufficient size for the 
wants of the people — the jail being often without ten- 
ants. The village contains also, two churches, three 
taverns, several stores, and about fifty dwellings. 

Oil the right is Tuft's Landing, or Blazing Star, 
containing two or three tolerably handsome residences. 
Just beyond, on the left, is Rossville, a small village, 
with a good hotel, and several very neat and elegant 
private mansions. This is a place of much resort in 
the summer season. The town takes its name from 
Col. Ross, a large landed proprietor, who has erected 
here a beautiful Gothic mansion, much admired by 
travelers on this route. It is a costly and extensive 
afTair, and is really elegant, notwithstanding its sombre 
appearance. The village contains about twenty-five 
dwellings. A mile or two further, we pass, on the 
right, the village of Woodbridge,* distant about two 
miles from the Sound, and barely visible from the 
boat. The town contains a post-office, a church, a 
tavern, three stores, and a population of about five 

* About a mile from Woodbridge, is a celebrated mineral 
soring called the Spa : the waters of which are said to be 
valuable in the cure of liver co-nplaints, eruptions of the skin, 
&c. The Spa lies between Woodbridge and Perth Amboy, 
and is much resorted to by invalids durinij the summer 
months. In the immediate vicinity are a number of ex- 
cellent boarding houses, fur the accommoJation of visitors. 



FROM NEW-YORK TO PHILADELPHIA. 11 

huiulred. This is about four miles from Perth Am- 
boy. The scenery on both sides of the Sound is very 
beautiful in this vicinity ; the farms are well cultivated, 
the productions of the soil valuable, and the farm 
houses of a neat and substantial character. 

The point on the left is called Willow Point, near- 
ly opposite which, on the right, is the mouth of Wood- 
bridge Creek, leading to the village just named. A 
short distance beyond this, on the right, is a long 
point, called Plough Shear Point, so named from its 
shape. At the distance of a mile or more from this 
place, we reach the city of Perth Amboy, where the 
boat stops for way passengers. 



P£RT1I AMBOY. 

Perth Amboy is advantageously situated at the head 
ofRaritan bay, about twenty-five miles south-west of 
New York, and fourteen miles from Sandy Hook. It 
is bounded on the east by Staten Island Sound, and on 
the south by the Raritan river. It is a port of entry, 
and is one of the largest and safest harbors in the Uni- 
ted States, though the landed proprietors appear to be 
sadly deficient in enterprise. Perth Amboy is easily 
approached from the sea by a broad channel, having 
generally fourteen feet of water and upwards. This 
place was early noticed by the English settlers in this 
vicinity, and was called by the aborigines Jimbo^ the 
Point. It was greatly resorted to by them on account 
of its fishery and oyster beds ; the latter of which still 
exist here, and are, at the present time, celebrated for 
the fine quality of the oysters, which are taken in 
great abundance, in the immediate vicinity, giving em- 



1*2 THE traveler's GUIDE. 

ployment to a great number of persons. Perth Amboy 
was first settled, and laid out into lots in 1683. Its 
present charter is dated 1784. The city is governed 
by a mayor, recorder, aldermen, common councilmen, 
sheritT, coroner, township officers, &c., elected annu- 
ally by the people. The mayor, recorder, and alder- 
men have power to grant licences, and to hold a court 
of record. To induce the settlement of merchants 
here, the port was declared free, and they are exempt 
from taxation for twenty-five years. The city at pre- 
sent contains about 1300 inhabitants, a dozen or more 
stores, several taverns, churches for Episcopalians, 
Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians, several good 
boarding houses, and a number of good schools. 
Among the latter are a young ladies' seminary, kept 
by Mr. and Mrs. Halsey, and an academy for young 
gentlemen, by Mr. S. E. Woodbridge. There is an 
extensive pottery in the city, in which clay from South 
Amboy is chiefly used ; but the chief business of the 
inhabitants is the oyster fishery, in which a capital of 
•$50,000, or upwards, is employed, and which yields 
a handsome annual profit. From its easy access by 
water, and its pleasant situation in the vicinity of the 
ocean, — affording delightful sea-bathing, Perth Amboy 
may be ranked as an agreeable and healthy place of 
resort, during the summer months. A few years 
since, a large hotel, called the Brighton House, was 
erected for the accommodation of visitors to this place, 
but owing to the want of patronage, it was discon- 
tinued, and is now converted into a handsome coun- 
try seat. Among the manufactories of the place is one 
for furnishing Dr. Andrews's patent locks for doors, 
chests, banks, &c., known over the whole Union. 
Perth Amboy is two miles from South Amboy. 



PROM NEW-YORK TO PHrLADELPHIA. 13 

Opposite Perth Araboy is Totten's Landing, con- 
taining a few dwelling houses and a ship yard. 



Leaving Perth Amboy, we at once open into Rar- 
ITAN Bay, leading to the ocean on the left. Billop's 
Point is on the extreme end of Staten Island. Here 
are extensive flats, celebrated for fine oyster beds, 
some of which are as much as three or four miles in 
extent. On these flats, oysters are planted, and the 
business is found to be exceedingly profitable, while 
the quality of the oyster is much improved by this 
process. Fairly in the bay, we have, on our right, 
the Raritan River,* extending up the country many 
miles, and embracing some beautiful scenery ; and on 
our left, the outlet to the ocean, through Lower Raritan 
bay. Prince's Bay Light-House, the Highlands 
of Neversink, and the Light-House on Sandy Hook, 
distant seventeen miles, are visible from the boat, in 
clear weather, forming a most interesting and attract- 
ive prospect. 

Landing at South Amboy, the baggage crates are 
hoisted, by powerful machinery, on the rail-road ; and 
having shown their tickets at the gate of the depot, the 

* The Raritan river is formed by two considerable streams, 
callt^l the North and South brfmches, — the source of the one 
is in Morris county, that of the other in Hunterdon county. 
At Raritan hills, through which the river passes, is a small 
cascade of fifteen or twenty feet, between two rocks. Oppo- 
site to New Brunswick, the river is so shallow, that it is 
fordable at low water, for horses and carnages ; but a litlle 
below, it dpepens so fast, that a heavily-laden vessel may 
rifle securely, at any time of tide. Copper ore has been 
found in the upper part of this river. 
B 



14 THE traveler's GUIDE, 

passengers take their seats in the cars, on the rail-road 
leading to Bordentown, distant thirty-five miles. 



SOUTH AMBOY. 

South Amboy is very prettily situated at the head 
of the Raritan bay, and mouth of the Raritan river. 
It is about fourteen miles east of New Brunswick. 
Here is a safe harbor for vessels, and deep water at 
the landing. The village is situated to the left of the 
landing. It contains a tolerably good hotel, a Meth- 
odist church, and about forty or fifty dwellings, — prin- 
cipally occupied by persons attached to the rail-road. 
The Company own most of the property in this vicin- 
ity. There is here an extensive manufactory of stone 
ware, made from clay obtained in the neighborhood, 
which is celebrated for its excellent quality. Popula- 
tion 1800. 



Houte from Soiitli Amboy to PliiladelplEia, 

BY RA.IL-ROAD. 

From South Amboy, the rail-road, for several miles, 
runs through a country both sandy and dreary — deep 
cuts of barren sand hills, and low and unprofitable 
pines, — and presenting, of course, few objects of in- 
terest to the traveler. The tediousness of the route, 
however, is somewhat relieved by the mile posts, 
which skirt the way on our right, and mark the dis- 
tances as we rapidly pass them. The mile posts ex- 
tend all the way to Bordentown. 

Losing sight of the bay, we pass at once into a 
country covered with light woods of pine and cedar, 
up a grade of forty feet to the mile, — the heaviest 



FROM NEW-YORK TO PHILADELPHIA. 15 

grade on the whole road. On the grrade is a heavy, 
deep cut, varying from twenty to tlfty feet, in a coun- 
try wretchedly poor and barren. This grade extends 
for about two miles. Between the 3d and 5th mile 
posts, (from Amboy,) the cutting is also very deep. 
Five miles from Amboy, we pass, on the left, the 
Township Poor House, a small frame building, as 
poor in appearance as the land upon which it is erect- 
ed. Just beyond this, we go through what is called 
the Devil's Half Acrk, a remarkably barren spot, 
of some twenty acres, across which, in windy and 
stormy weather, the sand rolls in mountains. At the 
7th mile post we cross a small stream, leading into the 
Raritan river, called Tennett's Creek ; just beyond 
which is another stream called South River, also 
running into the Raritan. Here is a village, called 
South River, containing two taverns, two stores, and 
from twenty-five to thirty small dwelling houses. This 
is a great depot foe wood, which is brought here from 
the adjacent country, for the use of the locomotives. 
The country is rather more open, and, in places, un- 
der good cultivation. Two miles further, we arrive at 

Where the cars stop to take in wood and water. On 
the left, is the villaije of Spotswood, a thriving place ; 
containing two churches, a grist mill, two taverns, and 
from forty to fifty dwellings. In the town there are, 
also, several establishments for manufacturing tobacco. 
Spotswood creek is crossed soon after leaving the 
Station. 

Beyond the 12th mile post we cross a small stream, 
or pond, said to be celebrated for good fishing. Here 
we have, again, pine woods and barren sands, for some 



16 THE traveler's GUIDE, 

distance. Some of the banks along the road have the 
appearance of containing marl, but the article is not 
rich enough to answer the purposes of manure. At 
the 14th mile post is West's Turn Out, where the 
cars stop to take in and let out passengers, and where 
there is a small village, of some half a dozen houses. 
Beyond this, we pass through an uncultivated country, 
covered with light pine woods.* Passing the 15th 
mile post, we have, again, a tolerably deep cut through 
sandy hills, emerging from which the country presents 
a more interesting appearance — the quality of the land 
grows better, and the cleared portions appear to be 
under good cultivation. • The little village of Gravelly 
Hill, is situated near the 16th mile post. Here there 
is a turn-out for the trains to pass each other. About 
a mile or two hence, we pass the village of Cranberg, 
distant a mile or two on the right. The steeple of the 
Presbyterian church may be seen from the rail-road. 
Here we again pass throujjh pine and cedar woods, 
and leaving the 19th mile post, reach a country rather 
better cultivated. Near the 21st mile post, is 

IIICJMTSTOIVN STATIOIV, 

And the village of that name, where the cars stop for 
passengers, and to take in wood and water. Passen- 
gers for Freehold, Monmouth county. Deal, Squam, 
Long Branch, &c. on the sea board, are landed here, 
during the summer season, both from New York and 
Philadelphia, and take stages to their places of destina- 

* The character of the soil along this roarl, though unfa- 
vorable for cultivation, is excellent for rail-road purposes, 
and the Company have taken every possible precaution to 
guard against tl;e effects of frost and snow. The road is 
based on a considerable depth of powdered stone. 



FROM NEW-YORK TO PHILADELPHIA. 17 

tion. Hightstown creek runs close by the town. The 
village contains churches for Methodists, Baptists, 
and Presbyterians, three stores, three taverns, and 
nearly one hundred dwellings, all frame, and none of 
them remarkably neat or handsome. 

From Hightstown to the 24th mile post, we find 
nothing of interest on either side of the road. The 
country is poor, the land woody, and the dwelling- 
houses small and unprepossessing in appearance. Be- 
yond the 24th mile post, we pass, on the riffht, the 
small village of Centreville, containing a half dozen 
or more houses, and a small but neatly built cluirch. 
At the 25th mile post, we cross a rivulet, upon which 
there are two or three mills. Beyond this, for several 
miles, we have the same uninteresting kind of country. 
At the 30th mile post, the appearance of things is 
decidedly better— the quality of the land is much im- 
proved, and the dwelling-houses look neat and com- 
fortable. The population here is also more dense. 
About a mile further, on the left, is the village of 
Yardleyville, or Sand Hills, containing some twen- 
ty or twenty-five houses. Here we cross the great 
road leading to Trenton, which city is distant about 
three miles on the right. Beyond this, we cross, on 
a long bridge, the Crosswicks Crkkk, a winding little 
stream which passes through the grounds of Count 
Survelliers, and empties into the Delaware at Borden- 
town. The stream has here a most singular and un- 
usual bend, and the rail-road bridge crosses it twice. 
Beyond this the country is still improving, and some 
tolerably fine orchards are seen along the road. 

About two miles from Bordentown, on the riglit, is 
a range of curious and singular buildings, with a white 
exterior, erected some years since, by Achilla IMurat, 
b* 



18 THE traveler's GUIDE, 



1 



son of Joachim Murat, once king- of Naples, and 
nephew of Napoleon. The mansion-house, stables, 
&c., are all under one roof. 

J\'ist beyond this, we have, on the right, a neat 
white fence, marking the property of Count Sur- 
velliers, which continues for some distance, on our 
right hand. The grounds exhibit fine woods and 
parks, elegant lawns and graveled v/alks, and display, 
in the whole, much industry and skill, as well as neat- 
ness and tasle. A fine view of the Count's mansion 
is obtained from the cars. 

This brings us at once to the village of Bordkn- 
TOWN,* and passing through a deep cut, and under two 
bridges, the last of which is substantially arched, we 
arrive at the usual stopping-place for way passengers.! 

Emerging from this deep cut, we pass the branch 
road to Trenton and New Brunswick on the right, and 
at once open into a charming view of the Delaware 
river on the right. Half a mile further brings us to 

HOKDEWTO^VIV STATION. 

From this place passengers from New York are 
sometimes conveyed to Philadelphia by steam-boat, 
and sometimes by rail-road to Camden. We shall 
follow the latter, at this time, and beg to refer the 
steam-boat passenger, for a description of the leading 
points of interest on the river, to our article com- 
mencing on pajje 33. 

The locomotive being replenished with wood and 

* Ft)r a description of Bordentown, see page 42. 

f The interestino- appearance of the country, for the last 
few miles of the road, atones, in a great measure, for tlie 
barrenness of that between Amboy and Hightstown. 



FROM NEW- YORK TO PHILADELPHIA. 19 

water, we leave the Company's depot, and run close 
along the river for some distance, having, on our left, 
a high bank, and on our right, an extended view of 
river scenery, and many charming prospects on the 
Pennsylvania shore. The village of Whitehill is 
on our left, — see page 42. Between two and tliree 
miles further, we reach Biddle's Creek, and the vil- 
lage of KiNGCORAS, opposite the southern part of Bid- 
dle's Islvnd. See page 41. Leaving this we lose 
sight of the river, and have a straight road for some 
miles, throiigh a tolerably well cultivated, and rather 
interesting country. The farmers in this vicinity en- 
tered largely into the great mulberry delusion, which 
prevailed so extensively a few years since, and al- 
most every patch of ground was, at one time, covered 
with mulberry trees. 

At Burlington the cars stop about five minutes, to 
take in and let out passengers. For description of this 
place, and the principal buildings near at hand, see 
page 39, and page 47. 

About a mile from Burlington we cross a small 
creek, and again have a fine view of the river. On 
the Pennsylvania shore is Bristol College, present- 
ing a neat and imposing appearance. See page 38. 
The country around here is highly agreeable, and the 
land of good quality and well cultivated. Some of the 
peach orchards are very extensive, and furnish large 
quantities of this fruit for the Philadelphia market. 
Two or three miles further on, we pass a small and 
rather neat village, lying between the rail-road and the 
river, called Cooperstown. It contains a very pretty 
church, and a number of comfortable dwellings. Be- 
yond this, the country is more broken ; but very fine 
orchards continue to line the road, until we arrive at 



20 THE traveler's GUIDE. 

On the river of tiiat name, where the cars stop for 
water. Mount Holly is a few miles distant, on the 
left. Large quantities of pine wood are annually 
brought down this river for a market. This is eleven 
miles from Camden. 

From Rancocas to Pensauquin Creek and village, 
a distance of about four miles, we have a diversified 
rountry, of the same general charanter as that before 
noticed. Melons, peaches, Sic, are raised in great 
abundance. The houses are small, but the population 
is more dense ; and there is a manifest improvement 
in the appearance of the land, as we approach the city 
of Camden. Some fine views of river scenery are 
afforded on this stretch of the road, which is nearly 
straight from Rancocas to Pensauquin. Beyond this, 
we have a view of Bridesburg, on the Pennsylvania 
shore, and, in the course of a mile or two, the steeples 
of Philadelphia, and the upper part of the city, are 
seen in the distance, on the right. The country is 
generally level, and tolerably well improved. Passing 
the Fish House, on the right, belonging to the Tam- 
any Pea Shore Company, (see page 34,) we run close 
along the river shore, and speedily arrive at Cooper's 
Creek. From this place a short run brings us to the 
suburbs of Camden. Passing a beautiful site called 
Woodlands, a great place of resort in the summer 
season, we have the city of Camden on our right, and 
on our left, a new and rapidly improving settlement, 
called South Camden. The Episcopal church, a very 
neat building, the ?viethodist Episcopal church, a new 
and handsome edifice, the city jail, and a number of 
pretty and commodious brick dwelling houses, are 



SKETCH OF CAMDEN. 21 

passed on the right. Then, enterhig the depot, we 
leave the cars, and find, close at hand, a steam-boat to 
take us to Walnut street wharf, Philadelphia. 

SKETCH OF CAITIDEIV. 

The healthy and flourishing; city of Camden was 
first settled in 1681, by William Roydon. In irs2 
it was regularly laid out by Jacob Cooper, whose 
family came from Camden, in Gloucestershire, 
England. The population of Camden in 1840, was 
3366; it is now estimated at about 4000, including 
South Camden, and the villageof Kaighnton. Cam- 
den was incorporated in 1828, with extensive boun- 
daries. The oldest house is the tavern at English's 
Ferry. The places of worship are an Episcopal 
church, which has a tower ; two Friend's meeting 
houses, and two Methodist churches. An excellent 
public school, and several private seminaries are 
within the limits af the city. The manufacture of 
carriages is carried on extensively in this place. 
There are several saw and grist mills, a piano forte 
manufactory, and two printing offices — from one of 
which a weekly paper is issued. There is a book- 
bindery at South C^amden, and at Kaighnton an ex- 
tensive glass factory, and also a pottery and an iron 
foLindery. Camden is famous for its Jersey sau- 
sages, which eire much in demand in the Philadelphia 
market. This branch of business employs a large 
number of hands. 

A number of commodious ferry boats ply con- 
stantly between Camden and Philadelphia. Cam- 
den is the great entrepot of Philadelphia, at the ter- 
minus of the New York rail-road. Roads diverge 
from here to all parts of New Jersey, and be- 



22 THE traveler's guii^e. 

sides the rail-road to Bordentown north, there is one 
to the village of Woodbury, south. South Camden 
is the part of the city increasing* most rapidly at pre- 
sent in buildings, population, and wealth. The 
^^round slopes up very gradually from the river, 
mile or more, where there are many pleasing villas, 
cottages, and neat and commodious dwellings ; all 
commanding a full view of the river and city. — 
This vicinity is considered remarkably healthy. — 
South Camden was laid out and founded by Richard 
Tetters, and was originally called Fettersville. 

Camden is a great resort for Philadelphians du- 
ring the summer season, for rural recreations, tlic 
country air, and the pleasure of crossing the river, 
&c. There are several public gardens, charming- 
ibr recreation and refreshment, and the pine woods 
in the imnnediate vicinity, afford delightful grounds 
for the sportsman, the naturalist, and the gentleman 
of leisure. 



The baggage cars are also taken on board the boat, 
and while making the trip across the river, the passen- 
gers have an opportunity of looking for their baggage, 
and engaging a porter, a number of whom are allowed 
to be on board. The usual charge for conveying one 
trunk, a reasonable distance, is twenty-five cents ; for 
five or six trunks, one dollar. 

A great number of hacks and cabs will be found on 
the wharf. The rates of fare, as established by law, 
are as follows : — 

fiS A € E4 Rf E Y C O A € M E S . 
1. For conveying- one passenger from any place ea?t (^ 
Broad street, to any other place east of Bruad street, within 
the city limits, — 25 cents. 



RATES OF HACKNEY COACHES AND CABS. 23 

2. For conveying one passenger from any place we-t of 
Broad street, to any other place west of Broad street, within 
the city limits, — 25 cents. 

Each additional passenger, 25 cents. 
\^ Not more than four passages to be charged for any one carriage. 

3. For conveying one passenger from any place east of 
Broad street, to any place west of Broad street, or from any 
place west of said street, to any place east of the same, 
within the city limits, — 50 cents. 

If more than one passenger, then for each passenger, 25 cts. 

4. For conveying one or more passengers in any other 
direction within the limits of the pavement, for each pas- 
senger per mile, — 25 cents. 

5. For conveying one or more passengers, v;hen a car- 
ria2"e is employed by the hour, — $1 per hour. 

And at the same rate for a longer period. 

BAGGAGE. 

1. For each trunk or other baggage placed inside, at the 
owner's request, and which would exclude a passenger, for 
each passenger that mi^ht be excluded thereby, — 25 cents, 

2. For each trunk, &c. placed outside, — 12| cents. 
Baggage placed outside not to pay more in the whole than 

25 cents. 

O' Penalty for exceeding the above charges, Five Dollars. 



CABS. 

1. For conveying one passenger from any place east of the 
centre of Broad street, to any other place east of the centre 
of Broad street ; or from any place west of the centre of 
Broad street, to any other place west of the centre of Broad 
street, within the city limits, — 25 cefits. 

Each additional passenger, 12^ cents. 

2. For conveying one passenger from any place east of the 
centre of Broad street, to any other place west of the centre 
of Broad street; or from any place west of the centre of 
Broad street, to any other place east of the centre of Broad 
Btreet, within the city limits, — 37^ cents. 

Each additional passenger, 12^ cents. 



24 THE traveler's GtlDE. 

3. For the use of a Cab by the hour, within the city limits^ 
with one or more passengers, with the privilege of g'oing 
from place to place, and stopping as often as may be re- 
quired; for each and every hour, — 50 cents. 

4. Whenever a Cab shall bo detained, except as in the 
foregoing section, the owner or driver shall be allowed per 
hour, — 50 cts. 

And so, in proportion, for any part of an hour, exceeding 
fifteen minutes. 

5. For conveying one or two persons, with reasonable bag- 
gage, to or from any of the steam-boats or rail-roads, (ex- 
cept the Trenton and New York Rail-Roads,)— 50 cents. 

More than two persons,— each 25 cents. 

TENALTV. 

For exceeding the above charges, or for refu-ing or ne- 
glecting, when unemployed, to convey any persons, or their 
baga;'age,to any place within the limits prescribed by the Ordi- 
nance, upon being applied to for that purpose. Five Dollars. 

HOURS OF STAR11NG TO VARIOUS POINTS. 

For Baltimore, at 6^ o'clock, A. M., and 4 P. M. 

For New York, at 7 and 9 A. M., and 5 P. M. 

For Reading, Pottsville. &c., at 10 o'clock, A. M. 

For Lancaster, Harrisburg, Chambersburg, and Pittsburg, 
at H A. M., and 2 P. M. Depot, Market near Eighth et. 

For West-Chester, at 8 A. M. Dppot on Broad street. 

For Germantown, Manayunk, Norristown, several trips 
daily. 

I^or Wilmington, at several hours during the day. 

For Delaware City, Smyrna, &c., daily, at 10 A. M. 

For Salem, &c., by steam-boat, at 10 o'clock, A. M. 

For Bethlehem, Allentown, &,c., daily, at 4 A. M., from 
White Swan Hotel, Race street near Third. 

For Tuckerton, and various other place's in New Jersey, 
three times a week, from Market street Ferry. 

For Bristol, Burlington, Bordentown and Trenton, several 

times! daily, by rail-roads and steam-boats. 

|l3"As the hours of starting on the above lines, are frequently chang:ed, 
the traveler should make inquiry respecting them, at the hotel at which 
he Etops. 



i 



OUTLINE OP PHILADELPHIA. 25 



BRAEF OlJTI.I.\E OF PHILADELPHIA- 

Philadelphia is situated on the narrowest part of the isth- 
mus between the rivers Delaware and Schnylkill, and is the 
most reo^ularly built city in the United Slates. The prin- 
cipal streets are one hundred feet wide, and the others not 
less than fifty. They are perfectly straight, and intersect 
each other at right angles. Many of them are beautifully 
fihaded, all are well paved, and kept remarkably clean. 
Common sewers have been formed under most of the main 
streets, which carry the filth into the Del-iware, and contri- 
bute to the comfort of the inhabitants. The houses exhibit 
an appearance of neatness, uniformity, and commodiousness, 
and most of them are ornamented with white marble steps 
and window sills. The principal streets are lighted with gas. 

Manufactures of almost every description, are carried on 
to a very great extent, in Philadelphia and the immediate 
vicinity. As a publishing city, it is one of the greatest in 
the world. Its literary character has always been high, and 
the excellence of its daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly 
periodicals, is known- throughout the whole country. Ita 
extensive [)ook publishing establishments are excelled only 
by those of New York. 

The literary, philosophical, and benevolent institutions of 
Philadelphia, are too numerous for a particular notice of each, 
in this brief sketch. The Phihidelphia Library was founded 
by the illustrious Franklin, in the year 17H1. [t is situated 
on Fifth street below Chesnut, and contains over 4*2,000 
volumes. The library of the Athenfcum, is oparly opposite, 
where there is a most choice collection of valuable works, 
popular literature, and periodical publications. There are 
various other public libraries, the most valutble of which, 
are those belonging to the Ac.idemy of Natural Sciences, 
and that owned by the Philosophical Society. The Phila- 
delphia Museum, founded by Pnale, the most extensive col- 
lection of objects of natural history in America, occupies 
the upper part of a splendid new building on Ninth street 
below Chesnut. The Academy of Fine Arts was founded in 
c 



26 Tlifc TRAVteLtlR^S Gl'iDE. 

1805, and contains a valuable collection of painting's and sts* 
tuary ; among the latter arc the Three Graces of Caiiova. 
The Pennsylvania University, the Jefferson Medical CoUefre, 
and the Pennsylvania College, embrace medical schools of a 
deservedly high reputation, and the number of students is im* 
mensely large. The faculty of these institutions is com- 
posed of some of the ablest medical gentlemen in the country. 
The Pennsylvania Hospital was founded in the year 1750. 
The buildings occupy an entire square, and in the front of 
them stands a leaden statue of William Penn. West's splendid 
picture of Christ healing the Sick, is kept in this institution, 
and is shown to strangers for a small gratuity. A branch 
of this establishment, for insane persons, has recently been 
organized on a most beautiful site a few miles from the city, 
west of the Schuylkill. The Asylums for Widows and Or- 
phans are most praiseworthy institutions, as is also that f»)r 
Indigent Widows. The Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, 
on Broad street, has been productive of much good. Wills' 
Hospital for the Blind, on Race street, is one of the noblest 
institutions of the city, and is doing much to promote the 
comfort and happiness of those afflicted with the loss of sight. 

Among other meritorious associations, there aie the So* 
ciety for promoting Agriculture, the Franklin Institute, for 
encouraging the Mechanic Arts, the Horticultural Society, 
the Association for Disabled Firemen, the Preston Retreat, 
the Apprentices' Library, the several Dispensaries, the Mu- 
sical Fund Society, the Seaman's Friend Society, the Mag- 
dalen Asylum, the Humane Society for the recovery of 
drowned persons, and the Union Benevolent Society, the 
object of which is to afford relief to the suffering poor through- 
out the whole city and districts. 

There are about fifty public buildings in Philadelphia, and 
nearly one hundred churches. Of the churches three only 
have steeples, viz., Christ Church, on Second street, above 
Market, a very old edifice; St. Peters' Church, at the corner 
of Pine and Third street, and the Presbyterian Church on 
Arch street above Tenth. The two former have each a c'lime 
of bells. The First Presbyterian Church, on Washington 
Square, the Episcopal Churches on Eighth, Tenth, and Thir- 



OUTLINE OF PHILADELPHIA. 27 

teenth street, and the new Methodist Church on Eighth street, 
are considered as furnishings, with many others, admirable 
specimens of architecture. 

Of the public building's, a few only can be noticed, and 
these, of course, will be those most likely to interest strangers. 
The B.ink of the United States, on Chesnut street, is con- 
sidered the most finished specimen of pure Grecian archi- 
tecture in the Union. It is of white marble, with Doric col- 
umns in front. Nearly adjoining is the Philadelphia Bank, 
a very neat edifice. The Bmk of Pennsylvania fronts two 
streets. Second and Dock, with Ionic columns, and is of white 
marble. The Girard Bank is a beautiful marble building 
with Corinthian columns, on Third street below Chesnut. 
The Exchange, at Dock and Walnut street, is among the 
most elegant, costly and extensive buildings in our city. The 
basement is occupied as the Post Office, and for brokers' offices, 
insurance companies, &c. The large hall used for "Change," 
is a most spacious room, with handsome columns, painted ceil- 
in o^s, &LC. The Reading Room is adjoining. Mr. John C. 
Martin is the attentive and efficient superintendent, from 
whom the stranger is always sure of receiving the utmost 
courtesy. The State, House, on ChesTiut street, between 
Fifth and Sixth, is a long range of brick buildings, dear to 
the whole American people, on account of containing the 
room where the Declaration of Independence was reported 
and signed. Here are Court rooms, the Mayor's office, rooms 
for city and county officers, &c. A beautiful steeple is built 
upon the centre building. The Arcade is an imposing struc- 
ture, Ifading from Chesnut to Carpenter street. It is fitted 
up with shops for the sale of every variety of fancy goods. 
The old Masonic Hall, on Chesnut street above Seventh, is 
in the Gothic style, and has boen much admired. The build- 
ing occupied as the Mint of the United Slates, fronts on Ches- 
nut street near Broad, and is built entirely of white marble. 
The amount coined annually varies from two to three mil- 
lions of dollars. The principal officer 'jt present is Major 
Isaac Roach, a v.^orthy and much esteemed citizen, for- 
merly Mayor of the city. The mint was established in 
this city in 1791, and in 1829, the present building was 



28 THE traveler's guide. 

erectefl. It presents a front of one hundred and twenty-two 
feet, divided into a portico sixty-two feet long, and two wingvS 
each of thirty feet. Thebuilding isof the Ionic Order, taken 
from the celebrated Grecian temple on the river liissus, near 
Athens. It is open to visitors. 

On the Ridge Road, a short distance from the city, nre the 
splendid buildings of the Girard College. These are still 
untinished, but no stranger should leave the city without pay- 
ing them a visit. Two millions of dollars were appropriated 
by Mr. Girard, for the building and endowment of this col- 
lege, and the gratuitous support and education of orphans. 
The main building is one hundred and ten by one hundred 
and sixty feet, three stories high, and sufficiently spacious for 
the accommodation of three hundred scholars. It is built en- 
tirely of white marble, and the fluted columns and caps are the 
richest things of the sort that have ever been seen in this 
country. The College is unquestionably a great ornament 
to the city, but the great delay in its completion is much to 
be regretted. 

Philadelphia has three Theatres, and two establishments 
for the operations of Circus Companies, open at intervals. 
The Chesnut street Treatre, has a front of white marble, and 
presents a very chaste exterior. The Arch street Theatre 
also presents a very fair exterior. The front of Welch's 
Circus, formerly the National Theatre, on Chesnut street 
near Ninth, is occopied by stores. 

The House of Refuge, an institution for the reformition of 
juvenile offenders, was founded in 1826; the building of 
which was effected in part by private donations. The plot of 
ground on which the Refuge is erected, is on the N. W. cor- 
ner of Coates street and the Ridge Road. It is four hundred 
feet in length, and two hundred and thirty-one feet in breadth. 
The main edifice is ninety-two feet in length by thirty in 
depth, and is capable of lodging two hundred and seventy- 
nine persons. Tiie annual expenses are about $r2,000. The 
Eastern Penitentiary, on Coates street, is a noble edifice, and 
well calculated to convey an idea of the external appear- 
ance of the castles of the middle ages, which contribute so 
eminently to embellish the scenery of Europe. It is built 



OUTLINE OF PHILADELPHIA. 29 

in the Gothic style, and hns the aspect of a fortress. It is of 
great extent. The wall is of gnmite, forty feet high, and 
incloses a square, six hundred and filty feet each way. The 
convicts are all employed in various kinds (3f mechanical 
labour, in cells by themselves, and a portion of the proceeds 
of his work is paid to the convict on his liberation. The hu- 
mane and rntional system of discipline established, and so 
successfully maintained in this institution, has become a model 
for those of the other States, r,nd for many in Europe. The 
Conttty Prison, situated in Moyamensirin-, is a new and splen- 
did build in «j: of great extent. This prison is also under the 
most eii'cient regulation. 

The improvement in which Philadelphians take the most 
pride, is perhaps that connected with a plentifiil supply of 
pure water from the Schuylkill river. This enterprise was 
commenced in 1797, when a reservoir was constructed on 
tlie Schuylkill, from which water was thrown, by a steam- 
engine, into a tunnel, and thence conveyed to another engine 
house on Broad and Market street, where it was apam raised 
by a second engine, and distributed in pipes through the city. 
By this means, in Jan. 1801, water from the Schuylkill was 
first thrown into the city. An experience of ten years proved 
that a snfncient supply could not be obtained by this method, 
and in ISll, two larijer engines were constructed, and an 
additional reservoir formed. Even these, however, were not 
satisfactory in their results, and the expense was found to be 
enormous. In 1S19, the project of damingthe Schuylkill, and 
erecting the works at Fairrnount, was commenced, and in the 
course of a few years, completed. The result is most satis- 
factory. An unlimited amount of water is obtained, and at 
this time, the iron pipes through which it is conveyed to the 
city and districts, make, together, an extent of about one 
hundred and fifteen nules. The consumption in the summer 
months is about 4,500,000 gallons of water for twenty-four 
hours, and the reservoirs, which cover six acres of ground, 
and are one hundred and two ti^et above tide water, will con- 
tain a supply for ten days at that rate. The small water-rent 
charged to tamilies, for the use of the Schuylkill water on 
c* 



30 THE traveler's GUIDE. 

their premises, brins^s in a handsome revenue to the city. A 
new dam has recently been erected on the ISchuylkill, and the 
grounds about Fairmount greatly improved. It is, perhaps, 
the most attractive place for strangers in the whole city. 

Against the ravages of fire, Philadelphia is most efficiently 
protected. No city in the Union has a more prompt or active 
fire department. It is composed principally of young men, 
and the competition among the companies, to be first on the 
ground, and render the most service, is very great. There 
are about sixty independent Engine and Hose companies, 
owning splendid fire apparatus. Many of the hose carriages 
are models of beauty, and most of the engines are built in 
the most elegant and substantial manner. They will project 
water to the distance of about two hundred feet. The fire 
companies are supported partly by individual subscriptions, 
and partly by appropriations from the city and districts. 

The Public Squares should not be forgotten. They reflect 
great credit on the wisdom and foresight of Penn, by whom 
they were designed, and are much prized by the citizens, 
who make them a place of great resort. In the Franklin 
{Square, in the north part of the city, there is a beautiful 
fountain. 

Every stranger is struck with the excellence of the Phila- 
delphia markets, and a walk on a market day through the 
market-houses on High street, which extend about a mile in 
length, is really a matter of curiosity. The supply of arti- 
cles is immense, and theair of neatness and cleanliness which 
prevails, can scarcely be found, to the some extent, in any 
other city. There are market houses of less extent in various 
parts of the suburbs of the city. 

There are two bridges across the Schuylkill at Philadel- 
phia, both of which are free. The Permanent bridge at 
Market street, is 18(10 feet in length, and cost about $275,(!00. 
The new Wire brid^re, at F'airmount, just completed, is 
universally admired for its lij^ht and beautiful appearance. 
The view of the river and adjacent country from this bridge, 
is truly magnificent. 



OUTLINE OF PHILADELPHIA. 31 

In the matter of Education, Philadelphia has ever been 
distinguished. It has a vast number of private seminaries, 
boarding schools, &-c,, of the highest character, but the praise- 
worthy system of Public Schools, so generally in operation, 
is the leading feature of its education at present. These 
schools are found in all parts of the city and suburbs, well 
filled with pupils of all classes, the rich as well as the poor, 
and conducted by able and efficient teachers. For education 
in the higher branches, an High School has been established 
on Juniper street near Market, which is filled with pupils 
from the Public Schools. This school is under the charge of 
experienced professors, at the head of whom, until recently, 
stood Professor A. D. Baclie. On the High School there is 
an Observatory, and the most valuable astronomical appara- 
tus to be found in the United States. For admi.^sion into the 
High School, no other qualification is necessary, upon the 
part of the child of the humblest citizen, than a certain de- 
gree of proficiency in the lower branches, and a probation in 
some one of the Public Schools. 

Philadelphia is divided, for municipal regulations, into the 
City proper, and the' districts of the Northern Liberties, 
Kensington, Spring Garden, Southwark and IMoyamensing, 
all of which are subdivided into wards, for each one of which 
there is an Alderman, elected by tlie people. The City is 
governed by a Mayor and Select and Common Councils, the 
Northern Liberties by a Mayor and District Commissioners, 
and the several districts by Commissioners, all of whom are 
elective officers. The population of Philadelphia is, by the 
late census, 258,832. 

Philadelphia was founded in the year 1682, by William 
Penn. The name Philadelphia is derived from two Greek 
words, the first signifying "a friend," and the second "a 
brother." The Indian name of the place was Conqiienalm, 
or "the grove of tall pines." The fronton the river Dela- 
ware extends a distance of between four and five miles. 

Sept. 5, 1774, the members of the first congress convened 



32 THE traveler's guide. 

in Philadelphia, where they adopted that celebrated decla- 
ration of rights which may be considered the preface to the 
Declaration of Independence. Within two year? after, the 
eternal separation of the United States from Enoland was 
decreed by that aug-ust body, and proclaimed to the people 
from the State Honse. The Declaration of Independence \s 
stated to have been written by Mr. Jefferson in a ronm in 
the buihling on Fourth street, known as the Indian Qnoen 
Hotel. Cono-ross continued to sit at Philadelphia until the 
approach of the enemy, in the fall of 1770, compelled them 
to retire to Baltimore, The city fell into the possession of 
the British forces, Sept. 26, 1777, and they occupied it until 
the 18th of June tbllowintr. Dnrii)Sf the remainder of the 
war it happily escaped the ravan-es of the enemy. Phila- 
delphia was the seat of the Stale Government until the year 
1800. 



PRINCIPAL HOTELS. 

Wasliinetnn rioii=o. No. 2\12 Chesnut st., kept by H. J. Hartwell. 

United states Hotel, (^hpsiiut above 4th, " Tlios. C.Ray. 

Union Hotel, l.'S-i Uliesniit struct, " J. A. Jones. 

Frankli.'i H'ltel, •;hesnut near 3(i, " .t. IVI. Sanderson &,?on. 

Congress Hall, 83 Chesnut street, " J. Stnnlivant. 

iMerchants' Hotel, 4th above High st.. " K. N. Bridges. 

Tremont House, Chesnut below 4th, " Mr. Herr. 

Indian Queen Hotel, 4th ahovp Chesnut, " Jesse Righter. 

VV'aliiutst. House, No. 2 Walnut St., " J. B. Blo'idgood. 

Baltimore House, Dock arid Front st., " W. S. Herrill. 

Madison House. 39 North Second st., " G. Fern e. 

Mount Vernon House, ii.5 North Second si., " vv'm. Field. 

Civ Hotel, Third near Arch St., " R. W. D'lnlap. 

Gulden Swan, Third ahove ^Arch St., " Clias. Wise. 

White Swan, 203 Sassafras St., " John Webb. 

Mansion House Hotel, Market and llth St., " John dorter. 

Second st. House, 4-2 North Second St., " Jose|)h Hall. 

Western Exchamje, High, west of Broad, " R.Boyle. 

Western Hotel, 2><s Market street, " Win. Arhuckle. 

Red Lion Hotel, 200 Market street, " C. Rr^wer. 

Market street Ferry, Market st. wharf. " Israel Scattergood. 

Arch s reet House, Arch st. wharf, " C. Ciiami.ion. 

Black Bear Inn, Fifth st neir High, " H. H. Hornc. 

Broad St. House, Broad and Vine sf., " II. Crozier. 

Bull's Head, 25) North 'I hii?! st., " W. Oaige. 

National Hotel, I\larker. and 9th St., " Jas. Quinlan, 

Merchants' House, 3d above Callowhill, " bungan &c Tike. 



ROUTE 



FROI\l 



PHILADELPHIA TO NEW YORK. 



FROM PHILADELPHIA TO BORDENTOVVN, 

BY STEAM-BOAT. 



For sketch of route to New York by Rail-Road, see page 45.. 



The boats on the Delaware owned by the Company, 
are the New Philadelpliia, Capt. Hinkle, and the Tren- 
ton, Capt. Kester. Both are steamers of the first class 
in point of size, finish and speed, and their commanders 
enjoy an eminent degree of popularity with our citi- 
zens, for courtesy, gallantry, and an uniform gentlemanly 
deportment. 

Leaving the lower side of Chesnut street wharf, we 
have the upper part of the city and suburbs before us, 
in the form of a crescent, extending for two or three 
miles, and conveying the idea of an immensely large 
city. The view is beautiful and imposing. On the 
right is the north end of Smith's Island, which, at 
low water, extends as far up a^ Kensington. On the 
Jersey shore is Cooper's Point, and the mouth of 
Cooper's creek. The Point is an old ferry establish- 
ment, whence steam-boats ply to Arch street wharf, 
and Maiden street wharf, Kensington. Smith's Island 
increases very fast towards the north. In the crescent 
we see a large range of stores and warehouses, lumber 
yards, coal-depots, factories, shipping, &c., and a num- 
ber of ship yards, with vessels of all sizes on the stocks; 
also, at the distance of two or three squares from the 

33 



34 THE traveler's guidf, 

river, the new and handsome steeple erected on the 
German Lutheran Church on Brown street. In busy 
seasons the whole river front presents an aspect at 
once interesting and excitiuij. 

Opposite Dyottville Glass Works, which the 
stranger will readily recognise by the wliite buildings 
with brick chimneys, and the immense masses of coal, 
cinders, &c., lying near, is Petty's Island, a fine 
grazing island, about two miles long, and half a mile 
wide. It runs nearly east and west. The wreck of 
the old Revolutionary ship Alliance, lies on the north 
side of this island. The timbers mav be seen from the 
boat, unless tlie tide is very full. The wreck is, how- 
ever, rapidly diminishing, as pieces are frequently 
taken away by citizens, to furnish materials for making 
canes and other matters, as mementoes of this primi- 
tive man-of-war. 

Just beyond Dyottville, on the same side of the river, 
is the extensive depot of the Reading and Pottsville 
Rail-Road Company, a brancb of which rail-road ex- 
tends to a spacious wharf at this place. The arrange- 
ments for loading vessels are admirably contrived, and 
immense quantities of coal, for eastern markets, are 
annually taken from this wharf. Coal brought from 
Pottsville in the morning, may be loaded in vessels and 
shipped to sea on the same day. Adjacent to the de- 
pot is the village of Richmond, to which large quanti- 
ties of lumber, on rafts, are brought from up the river, 
in the spring of the year. The rafis sometimes extend 
for mdes, and hither the lumbermen of the city usually 
resort to make purchases. Richmond contains about 
fifLv dwelling-houses, and one or more churches. 

Nearly opposite, in a cove on the Jersey shore, is 
the Tamany Pea Shore Fish House, to which many 



fROM Philadelphia to nfav York, 35 

parties resort in the summer season, for recreation and 
amusement. It is a dclij^hiful place and is deservedly 
popular. 

On the Pennsylvania shore is Five Mile Point, or 
PoinT-no-Point, so called, because as you approach it, 
the appearance of a point extending into the river is 
presented, but when immediately opposite, this appear- 
ance is altogether lost. At this place there is much 
made ground, as the tide, not many years since, flowed 
back more than half a mile. 

Three miles above Richmond, on the same side, is 
the village of Bridesburg, containing a number of val- 
uable manufacturing establishments, and about seventy 
dwellings, including a number of handsome country 
seats. The river front, in the summer season, is ex- 
ceedingly beautiful. Gardens extending down to the 
water, neat white fences, and luxuriant trees, give to 
this place a most charming prospect as we pass it in 
the steamer. Back of Bridesburg, about half a mile 
from the river, is the extensive establishment known 
as the U. S. Arsenal. It was commenced during the 
late war, and now consists of six large stone buildings, 
forming a square, besides workshops and magazines. 
It is one of the principal depots for small arms, nitre, 
flints, &c., and contains, at this lime, about fifty thou- 
sand stands of small arms. This Arsenal is one of the 
handsomest military stations in the United States. The 
powder magazine is capable of containing more than 
half a million of pounds of powder. The keeper is 
the veteran Cooper, formerly a distinguished tragedian. 

Frankford creek empties into the Delaware at Brides- 
burg. It is navigable for small craft, at high tides, up 
to the village of Frankford, about one mile and a half 



SG THE traveler's GtJIDE^ 

distant, W. N. W. It contains a number of fzcioties 
and mills. 

On the right is Eight Mile Point, which extends 
at low water a considerable distance into the river. Just 
above, on the left, is Ten Mile Point, exhibiting a 
flat country, and much marshy ground. From this 
point, the steeple of a church, a large factory and other 
buildings, in the town of Holmesburg, distant about a 
mile and a half, are discernible from the boat. 

About half a mile above the Ten Mile Point is the 
mouth of Pennypack Creek, a very beautiful and ro- 
mantic stream, not navigable for any distance, but upon 
which are a number of extensive factories and mills, 
At the mouth of the creek is an hotel, the sign post of 
which is close to the river shore. 

A short distance above, on the same side of the river, 
is a large rough-cast house, known to all engaged on 
the river as the Bakk Housk, and so called because 
the place was used as a bake-house for the American 
army, while stationed in this vicinity, during the Rev-' 
olutionary war. It is now a private dwelling. It rs a 
pretty place, with a fine bold shore, and at one time 
was contemplated as the site of a town. The Bake 
House is distant from the city twelve miles. 

Immediately opposite, on the Jersey side, is the 
mouth of Ancocus Creek, generally called Rancocus, 
which extends back some miles, to the town of Mount 
Holly. It is navigable for small craft, to a place called 
Centreton, above which it branches off into several 
smaller streams, running in different directions. Mount 
Holly is a flourishing town, containing a Court-house, 
a jail, a Market-house, a Bank, several churches, 
some valuable mills, and over 200 dwelling-houses. 
A small steam-boat called the May Flower, plies be- 



PROM PHILADELPHIA TO NEW YORK. 37 

tween Mount Holly and Philadelphia, in the summer 
season, for the accommodation of market people. 

Just above the Bake House, on the left, is a large 
brick building called the Robin Hood Tavern. The 
bank of the river is here elevated, and being surmount- 
ed with tine trees, furnishes a most agreeable prospect. 
Immediately beyond, on the same side, is the mouth 
of PoQUESTRiAN Creek, which is the boundary line 
between the counties of Philadelphia and Bucks. The 
stream is navigable about a mile up, and contains a 
number of paper mills, factories, &;c. A short dis- 
tance further, also on the left, is the town of Andalu- 
sia, and the splendid residence of Nicholas Biddle, 
Esq., a large white buihling, facing the river, with a 
front similar to that of the United States Bank, on 
Chesnut street. Two handsome grottoes, used as 
bathing-houses, are immediately on the shore. The 
farm attached to this place is very extensive, and the 
vineyards, green-houses, &c., are probably superior to 
any thing of the kind in the whole State. The scen- 
ery in this immediate vicinity is exceedingly pleasinor 
— indeed the site of Andalusia is generally considered 
the prettiest on the river. The country here is thickly 
settled, on both sides of the river, and numerous sub- 
stantial farm-houses, and rich and fertile lands, give 
unequivocal evidence of comfort and wealth. 

Not far beyond Andalusia is a place called Dunk's 
Ferry, in old times an important point, on account of 
its ferry communication with the Jersey shore. A 
wherry boat intercourse is still maintained. The river, 
on the right, here makes a considerable curve, and 
presents a stretch of elevated country, covered with 
handsome trees and shrubbery. The shore is bold and 
handsome. On the left is the mouth of Neshamony 



38 THE traveler's guide. 

Creek, navigable about four miles up, to the town of 
Newport, where there is a dam. Upon this stream, 
which, with its branches, extends many miles into the 
interior, there are nrian)^ valuable mills. 

Immediately above Neshamony creek are the build- 
ings known as the Bristol College, and now occu- 
pied as a Military and Classical Institute, under 
the direction of Capt. Partridge, of the U. S. Army. 
There are tvvo blocks of main buildings, both exten- 
sive, and of imposing appearance. The handsome 
lawn in front is used for drilling and other military 
exercises. The system of instruction comprises ihe 
usual collegiate course, together with especial reference 
to instruction in the art of war, camp duty, the art of 
fortification, defense, Sic. The pupils, who are called 
cadets, may, however, study such branches either of 
civil or military education, as they may prefer, or 
which may be considered most appropriate for their 
destined position in life. The college is two miles 
from Bristol, and its position is remarkably hand- 
some. 

Passing the college, we have before us, on turning 
a point, a view of the city of Burlington, on the 
right, and the town of Bristol, on the left. The ap- 
proach to Burlington presents an exceedingly attractive 
view. A beautiful green bank commences at the low- 
er end of the town, and extends for some distance up, 
with a gentle slope to the water's edge. This is the 
general promenade for all visitors, as well as for the 
people of the town, who resort here, in great numbers, 
to enjoy the cool breeze from the river, after a hot 
summer's day. The large yellow building on the 
bank, built in some respects like an English cottage, 
is the princely residence of the Right Rev. Mr. Doane, 



SKETCH OF BURLINGTON. dy 

the Episcopal Bishop of New Jersey. The house has 
a cross on the top, and is frequently taken for a Cath- 
olic chapel. The building is very generally admired 
for the air of neatness and good taste which pervades 
the whole premises. The edifice next above, is a 
large boarding-school establishment, called St. Mary's 
Hall. It has a large number of pupils. The other 
buildings in the same range are private dwellings. A 
more desirable location, as far as regards beauty of 
situation and pleasing prospect, is probably not to be 
found on the river. 



SKETCH OF BlJRL.S]^GTOi\. 

Burlington city, the capital of Burlington county, is 
under the government of a mayor, aldermen, and 
council. The city limits extend about a mile back 
from the river, and about two miles along the river. 
The place was settled as far back as 1677. It con- 
tains a population of 3,434. The societies of Friends, 
Episcopalians, Methodists, and Baptists, have spa- 
cious and neat buildings for public worship, and the 
tone of society is decidedly moral. There are several 
excellent academies and schools, a public school, a 
city hall, a bank, a market-house, a lyceum, a 
public library, incorporated in 1743, a jail, several 
fire companies, Slc. The main streets are wide, and 
most of them are ornamented with trees. The city is 
neatly laid out, and there are many charming walks in 
the immediate vicinity. The facilities for reaching 
Philadelphia being very great, very many citizens 
make Burlington a summer residence, and a more de- 
lightful place it would be difTicult to find. Some manu- 
facturing business is carried on in the vicinity, but the 
chief source of profit to the inhabitants is found in the 



40 THE traveler's GUIDE, 



1 



products of the soil, a ready market for which is al- 
ways to be found in Philadelphia. Burlington is called 
twenty miles from Philadelphia, by the course of the 
river, and eleven from Trenton, in a straight line. 

HOTELS. 

City Hotel, kept by Samuel Rogers. 

Washing-ton Hodse, " J. A. Wethenli. 

Steam-boat Hotel, " E. Allen. 

Burlmgton Hou.se, " Mr. Matlack. 



Leaving Burlington to cross the river for Bristol, 
we pass, on the right, Burlington Island, formed by 
a small and unnavigable branch of the river. The 
island is about one mile in length, and half a mile in 
breadth, and contains a number of valuable farms in a 
high state of cultivation. 

SKETCffI OF BRISTOE.. 
Bristol lies nearly opposite Burlington, the river be- 
ing at this place rather over a mile in breadth. It is 
p handsomely built village, pleasantly situated on the 
river, and is also the resort of much company from 
Philadelphia, in the summer season. A ferry steam- 
boat plies from here to Burlington. Just above the 
steam-boat landing is a neat white edifice, with plain 
columns in front, which looks exceedingly well from 
the river, occupied as tlie Farmers' Bank of Bucks 
county. The other public buildings are a market- 
house, and churches for Methodists, Episcopalians, 
Baptists, and Friends. There are two or three excel- 
lent hotels in the borough. Bristol contains a popu- 
lation of 2,888. It is a great coal and lumber depot, 
as the Delaware Canal, which commences at Easton, 
terminates here. This canal has given new life to 



FROM PHILADELPHIA. TO NEW YORK. 41 

Bristol, and its increase of population and dwellings, 
within the last few years, has been considerable. The 
view of Bristol from the Delaware is exceedingly at- 
tractive, and the picture of the borough is heightened, 
in no small degree, by a number of handsome private 
residences, extending along the river above. 



The river above Bristol curves to the left. The 
handsome brick dwelling on the Jersey shore, on the 
right, is the residence of iMichael Hays, Esq. On the 
Pennsylvania shore, is another neat edifice, the resi- 
dence of Charles Newbold, Esq. Both occupy de- 
lightful positions. About three miles from Bristol, on 
the right, is what is called Cold Spring Point, around 
which is the North West Reach, where the river 
curves almost south-east, with a low, flat country on 
tlie left, but opening into higher ground on the right. 
The village of Tullytown, is seen on the left. The 
Jersey shore presents, at this place, an interesting and 
attractive appear-ance, being covered with trees, and 
affording much beautiful scenery. 

Five miles from Bristol and four miles below Bor- 
dentown, on the right, is the mouth of Biddle's Creek, 
and a long wharf, designed as the termination of the 
Delaware and Atlantic Rail-Road, a work intended to 
connect the Delaware river with the ocean, but which 
has never been completed, and the project of which is 
now entirely abandoned. The small village in this 
immediate vicinity, is called Kingcora. Immediately 
opposite, on the left, is a white farm house, adjoining 
which is an old building, occupied at one time, accord- 
ing to tradition, as the residence of William Penn. 
Above this is a ferry, connecting the opposite shores, 
d* 



42 THE traveler's guide. 

and the only reg-ular communication of the kind be- 
tween Bristol and Bordentown. 

Above Biddie's creek, on the left, is Biddle's or 
Newbold's Island,* at ihe northern termination of 
which the town of Whitehill is seen, occupying' a 
conspicuous situation on an elevated bank. This 
place is celebrated for its furnace and iron founderies. 

The river here curves to the left, and at the distance 
of about a mile from Whitehill, we reach the extensive 
and commodious wharf and depot of the Company, 
half a mile from the town of Bordentown, where the 
cars are in waiting to convey us to New York. At 
the depot is a large establishment for the manufacture 
of locomotive engines, belonging to the Company. 

Here we leave the steam-boat and take the cars for 
New York. The baggage cars are transferred to the 
rail-road without being opened. 



SKETCI3 OF BORS>E^TOWW. 

Bordentown is situated on a bank about seventy feet 
above tide water. Its position is remarkably beautiful, 
and the view of the river and adjacent country afforded 
from the river front of the town, is not to be surpassed 
in a distance of many miles. The town is remark- 
ably healthy, and it is a most desirable place of resort 
in the summer season. It contains a population of 
about 2000 — churches for Episcopalians, Baptists, 
Methodists, Friends, and African Methodists, and a 
place of meeting for Roman Catholics. The town is 

* The channel of the river is on the left of Biddle's Island. 
The stream between the island and the Jersey shore, though 
wide, is sometimes fordable. 



SKETCH OF BORDENTOWN. 43 

governed by three burgesses, a town clerk, high 
constable, &:o. 

The magnificent estate of the ex-king Joseph Bona- 
parte, commonly called Count Survilliers, lies in the 
upper part of the borough, fronting partly on the river 
and partly on Crosswicks creek. It is known by the 
name of Point Breeze, and its beautiful situation proves 
the owner to be a gentleman of the most cultivated 
taste. By an act of the legislature of New Jersey, 
passed expressly^o meet this case, the Count is ena- 
bled to hold real estate, without becoming a citizen of 
the United States. On the estate there are a hand- 
some mansion-house, a number of out-buildings for 
domestics, a handsome observatory, fronting on the 
river, summer houses, <fcc. The grounds are richly 
laid out, and are embellished with a number of stat- 
ues. In the rooms of the mansion-house are a num- 
ber of beautiful paintings, by some of the best Euro- 
pean masters. When the Count is not at home, the 
whole premises are open to visitors ; at other limes 
the grounds only rnay be visited. The interior of the 
observatory, which is always accessible, exhibits strong 
traits of American character, in being scribbled over 
with names, and disfigured by carved initials. The 
Count enjoys an enviable reputation in the neighbor- 
hood for courtesy of manners, benevolence, and kindly 
feeling. The mansion-house was destroyed by fire, 
in the year 1820, but was speedily rebuilt. The 
whole estate comprises nearly 1500 acres. 

Bordentown enjoys a high reputation for its excel- 
lent boarding-schools. Of these there are two for 
young ladies and one for young gentlemen. The lat- 
ter is kept by the Rev. Mr. Lathrop, rector of the 
Episcopal church. The Bellevue Female Seminary, 



44 THE traveler's guide, 

of which the Rev. William H. Gilder is principal, has 1 1 
been recently opened. The buildings occupy an ele- f ' 
vated position near the town, and command one of 
the finest prospects to be met with in this section of 
the state. The grounds are extensive, and embrace 
retired and beautiful walks : in addition to which the 
students have free access to those of Count Sur- 
villiers, whose property immediately adjoins that of 
the Seminary. The course of study in this institution 
is similar to that of the best female seminaries in the 
country ; the government is mild and parental, and 
the strictest attention is paid to the religious and moral 
training of the pupils. 

No stranger who has leisure should leave Borden- 
town, without paying a visit to the river bank. The 
sunset view is particularly beautiful. The course of • 
the river, which is here nearly due west — the mouth 
of Crosswicks creek, which stream extends some fif- 
teen or eighteen miles up the country — the termination 
of the Delaware and Raritan Canal, the locks of which 
here open into the river — the estate and buildings of 
Count Survilliers on the right, and Duck Island, cele- 
brated for its game, before the town, altogether present 
a scene of attraction and beauty, inspiring to the mind 
in no ordinary degree. 

HOTELS. 
Bordontown House, kept by John Ke.-^ter. 
Anchor Inn, " VVm. Tiel. 

A stage leaves Bordentown for Mount Holly, every 
day, on the arrival of the cars from Philadelphia. 
Horses and vehicles, for excursions to any part of the 
country, may always be obtained, at reasonable rates, 
at the livery stables in the town. 



FROM PHILADELPHIA TO NEW YOUK. 45 

ROUTE FROM PHILADELPHIA to NEW YORK, 

BY RAIL-UOAD, 

Via Camden, Bordentown, Trenton, New Brunswick, <^c. 




Passengers for New York by the Camden Rail-Road 
will take the steam-boat at Walnut street ferry. On 
the wharf will be found cars for the bag-gage, and por- 
ters to attend to placing it in, and procuring the tin la- 
bels, as receipts. For this service the porters expect 
about sixpence a trunk. 

Leaving the depot at Camden, the line passes through 
the southern part of the city, with the town of Fetter- 
viLLE, or South Camden, a new and flourishing vil- 
lage, on the right. A row of neat brick dwellings faces 
the rail-road on the left. The country is level, and 
generally under cultivation for market truck. Light 
woods diversify the prospect, and give interest to the 
opening scene. About a mile from Camden we cross 
Cooper's Creek, on a bridge with a draw, running 
parallel with a covered bridge for the common road. 
This creek is navigable for small craft a short distance 
up the country. Another mile brings us to a tolerably 
deep cut through land rather barren and sandy; emerg- 
ing from which we pass into a level country, with a 
fme view of the river and the upper part of Philadel- 
phia, on the left. The river continues in sight nearly 



46 THE traveler's guide, 

all the way to Bordentown. A mile or two further on, 
we approaeh almost to the water's edge, and pass a 
neat brick building, and an enclosed lawn, the prem- 
ises of the Tamany Pea Shore Fishing Company, to" 
which, during the summer months, parties of ladies 
and gentlemen from the city resort almost daily, for 
amusement and healthful recreation. Beyond this the 
country appears to be pretty well cultivated, and a 
number of fine orchards are seen on both sides of the 
road. Further on, a beautiful view is afforded of 
Bridesburg, on the Pennsylvania shore. 

About seven miles from Camden we cross the Pex- 
SAuQuiN Creek, a pretty stream, navigable, for small 
craft, for two or three miles up the country. Here we 
have a straight road for four miles, through a flat coun- 
try, generally under cultivation for market vegetables, 
and abounding in melons, peaches, &c. On this 
stretch of the road, we have a distant view of the town 
of Holmesbuhg, on the Pennsylvania shore. The 
scenery along the river is remarkably beautiful, and 
the country is well deserving attention for its fine farms 
and beautiful mansions. At the distanceof eleven miles 
from Camden, we reach the 

RAxirCOCAS STATIOI¥, 

On the creek so called, where the cars stop to take in 
water. For some notice of the creek and the town of 
Mount Holly, see page 3f6. The depth of water at the 
bridge is about thirty feet. 

Leaving the Station, we have before us a level coun- 
try, of the same general character as that before no- 
ticed. The land is pretty well cultivated, and very 
fine orchards are seen extending down to the river's 
edge. Light woods diversify the scene. After a run 



FROM PHILADELPHIA TO NEW YORK. 47 

of five or six miles we approach the city of BimLiNo- 
TON, very pleasantly situated, on a most charminjor site, 
ahout seventeen miles from Camden. The road passes 
through the eastern part of the city, and facing it, he- 
fore we reach the stopping-place, are the Episcopal 
church, a hanking-house, a neat white building, and 
a number of very beautiful private mansions, among 
which is the residence of Bishop Doane. The cars 
stop for way passengers at Rogers' Hotel, at the junc- 
tion of High and Broad street. For description of 
Burlington, see page 39. 

Leaving the stopping-place, the road continues up 
Broad street, and passes several neat, well-built, and 
handsome dwelling-houses. The Baptist Church, a 
rough-cast building, is on the left, and nearly opposite, 
is the Methodist Episcopal Church, a neat, brick edi- 
fice, standing back from the street. The Burlington 
School House is on the left. The vicinity of this 
place affords many delightful sites for private man- 
sions. Barry's or Assiscunk Creek is crossed just 
beyond the town. It is not navigable, being dammed, 
just above the town, but is celebrated for fine fishing 
grounds. Beyond the creek, on the left, is a very ele- 
gant mansion, occupying a remarkably conspicuous 
and beautiful site. 

From the creek we have a straight road of six miles, 
through the same description of country as is before 
noticed, to the town of Kingcora, where we find a 
branch rail-road to the small village of Jobstowv, five 
or six miles distant on the right. At Kingcora we 
cross a stream called Biddle's Creek, at the mouth 
of which, on the left, is a large and well cultivated 
island, called Biddle's Island. Beyond this, the rail- 
road is laid close along the river's edge, on banks thrown 



48 THE TaAVELl^R's GLIDE, 

lip for the purpose. The hills on the right freqaentlr 
inundate the road with water, which sometimes occa- 
sions considerable damage. About two and a half miles 
from Biddle's creek, is the town of Whitehill, just 
beyond which we arrive at the 

Where the cars stop for wood and water, and where a 
fresh locomotive is usually taken. On the high hill 
on the right, is the residence of Commodore Stewart, 
and the beautiful mansion in the occupancy of Edwin 
A. Stevens, Esq. 

Running up from the Station half a mile, the Bor* 
dentown passengers are landed at the depot, at the 
foot of a stairway leading up to the town, and then the 
cars retrograde a short distance, and curving to the 
right, strike the rail-road running to Trenton and 
New Brunswick, upon which we shall pursue our 
journey. Here the passengers find themselves going 
backwards, as what was before the last car is now the 
front; but this inconvenience is speedily remedied by 
shifting the position of the back of their seats. 

Bordentown is considerably elevated above the rail- 
road. For a description of the town see page 42. 

A beautiful view of the river opens as soon as we 
are fairly started. The harbor for the Company's 
steam-boats is immediately on the left, above which is 
the entrance to the outlet lock of the Delaware and 
Rarilan Canal. On the right is the splendid man- 
sion of Count Survilliers. The rail-road runs nearly 
parallel with the canal for about twenty miles, and 
the mile posts here seen, mark the distances on the 
canal. At the 1st mile post, (1 from Bordentown and 



SKETCH OV THENTON. 49 

42 to New Brunswick,) the scenery is remarkably 
beautiful and attractive, as far as the eye can see. 

Fences and ditches, to keep off cows, &;c., have 
been placed along this road — a very necessary precau- 
tion, as the tine grazing meadows on the right, are a 
place of much resort for cattle. 

Between the third and fourth mile posts, the rail- 
road overcomes a grade equal to the height of three 
locks, of 16 feet each, on the canal. Bevond the third 
lock is the village of Lamberton, an old settlement, but 
of very slow growth. Further on is the New Jersey 
State Prison, an extensive block of buildings, the 
new portions of which are remarkably grand and im- 
posing. Here is another lock on the canal, and the 
Union Inn, a small hotel for the accommodation of 
canal boatmen. This brings us in sight of Trenton, 
the steeple on the State House, and that of the Pres- 
byterian Church, &;c. Reaching another lock on the 
canal, we arrive at 

TRENTOW STATI01¥, 

Where the cars stop for way passengers. Here is a 
Refreshment house, for the accommodation of hungry 
and thirsty travelers. At the depot, a rail-road, upon 
which is a horse-car, leads to Snowden's Hotel, to which 
Trenton passengers are conveyed without charge. 



SKETCH OF TREIVTON. 

Trenton, the capital of the State of New Jersey, ia 
pleasantly situated at the head of tide water naviga- 
tion, on the east bank of the Delaware. The river is 
navigable to this place for sloops, but is not navigable, 
except for boats of moderate size, above the falls. At 
the foot of the falls is an elegant covered bridge, con- 

E 



50 THE traveler's guide. 

neclin^ Trenton with the village of Morrisville, on the 
Pennsylvania shore. The bridge is 36 feet wide, and; 
1 100 feet long, which length is divided into five arches. 
In the bridge are 169,223 feet of cut stone. The Rait- 
Road from Philadelphia to Trenton, &c., crosses on the 
northern side of this structure. 

Trenton is governed by a mayor and aldermen, and 
contains about 1400 houses, and a population, accord- 
ing to the last census, of 7000, including South Tren- 
ton, which is separated from the city by a small stream 
called Assumpinck creek. In the way of public build- 
ings, the most conspicuous and beautiful is the State 
House, a large and convenient stone building, with a 
cupola, containing rooms for the Legislature, Court of 
Chancery, Supreme Court, U. S. District Court, &;c. 
On the premises are buildings for the Secretary of 
Stale, and the Clerk of the Supreme Court. The 
house for the Governor of the State, a stone edifice of 
respectable dimensions, is situated very near the State 
House, on the same street. The office of the Clerk 
of the Court of Chancery is in a brick building imme- 
diately adjoining. The Town or City Hall, for mu- 
nicipal purposes, is a large and conspicuous brick 
building, on the corner of Second and Green street. 
In the basement story are offices for lawyers, and a 
Refectory. The large Presbyterian Church is imme- 
diately adjoining. It has very neat columns in front, 
and is surmounted with a steeple. A small stone in 
the outer vestibule states that the Church was formed 
in 1712, built 1726, rebuilt 1805 ; present edifice 
erected 1839. The Episcopal Church on Warren 
street, and the Methodist Church on Green street, are 
also worthy of attention. Besides these there are two 
meeting-houses for Friends, and churches for Roman 



SKETCH OF TRENTON. 51 

Catholics, Dutch Reformed, Presbyterians and African 
Methodists. The other public buildings of importance 
are the old State banking-house, now occupied as a 
free school; the Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank, 
and the banking-house of the Trenton Banking Com- 
pany, which latter is a very neat building with a mar- 
ble front. 

Manufactures of various kinds are carried on in 
Trenton to a considerable extent. In the city and vi- 
cinity there are 6 cotton mills, 3 grist mills, 3 paper 
mills, 1 calico factory, 3 saw mills, 1 oil mill, 2 coach 
manufactories, 1 axe manufactory, 2 iron founderies, 
and 2 candle manufactories. 

Besides one or more excellent private seminaries in 
Trenton, there are three Public Schools, for the edu- 
cation of children of all classes, under the control of 
Trustees appointed in general town meeting. The 
Trustees have discretionary power, and charge the 
parents of children who are able to pay, while poor 
children are admitted gratis, or on a charge merely nomi- 
nal. The system is said to work well, and the schools 
are conducted by able and popular teachers. The 
schools are maintained by a county tax, aided by a 
yearly appropriation from the State. 

Some of the private dwellings in and about Trenton 
are very beautiful, being ornamented with much taste 
and elegance. Near the rail-road depot is a row of 
cottages, rough-cast, with neat white porticoes, and an 
enclosed yard in front, presenting a most comfortable 
appearance. 

The State Penitentiary is a large and imposing edi- 
fice, about a mile below Trenton. It has been built 
about six years, and is much admired for its noble 
style of architecture. The interior regulations and 



52 THE traveler's GUIDE. 

government are based on those of the Eastern Peniten- 
tiary at Philadelphia. 

Trenton is distinguished in the history of the Revo- 
lution for the victory gained by Gen. Washington 
over the British army, on the 26th of December, 1776. 
The American army crossed the Delaware on the night 
of the 25th, during a violent storm of snow and rain, 
and attacked the enemy on the north and west parts 
of the town. A detachment of the army had been or- 
dered to cross the river and secure a position at the 
bridge, to prevent the escape of the British troops ; 
but, owing to the extreme difficulty of crossing the 
river, this part of the plan failed, and about 500 of the 
enemy escaped. The British lost 20 killed, and about 
1000 prisoners. The American loss was 2 killed, 2 
frozen to death, and 5 wounded. This brilliant affair 
gave a new impetus to the American cause, and re- 
vived the almost desponding hopes of the whole Ameri- 
can people. 

About a week afterwards, viz. on the 1st of January, 
1777, Assanpink creek, which runs through the 
town, was the scene of another of those masterly ma- 
noeuvres for which Washington was so celebrated. The 
American army lay between the creek and the river, 
and on the opposite side of the creek was a vastly su- 
perior British force under Lord Cornwallis. The ice 
in the river having melted, Washington's situation was 
one of extreme peril, as the river afforded no chance 
of escape. In this dilemma, the American commander 
formed the bold design of abandoning the Delaware, 
and marching by a circuitous route along the left flank 
of the British army, into its rear at Princeton ; and, 
after beating the troops at that place, to move rapidly 



SKETCH OF TRENTON. 53 

on Brunswick, where the baggage and magazines of 
the British army lay, under a weak guard. This plan 
being approved by a council of war, preparations were 
made for its immediate execution. The baggage was 
removed to Burlington, and atone o'clock in the morn- 
ing the army decamped silently for Princeton. At 
sunrise the Americans met two regiments of British 
soldiers on their way to join Lord Cornwallis. A sharp 
action ensued, and the British were completely routed. 
Reaching Princeton, the British regiment stationed 
there took possession of the college, and made a. show 
of resistance ; but Gen. Washington having brought 
some pieces of artillery to play upon the building, it 
was soon abandoned, and the greater part of them be- 
came prisoners. In this engagement the British lost 
rather more than 100 killed, and near 300 prisoners. 
The loss of the Americans in killed was somewhat 
less ; but in their number was included General Mer- 
cer, Cols. Haslet and Potter, Captains Neal and Flem- 
ing, and five other valuable officers. On perceiving 
that the American army had left Trenton in the night, 
Lord Cornwallis marched with the utmost expedition 
to the protection of Brunswick, and was close in the 
rear of the Americans before they could leave Prince- 
ton. Gen. Washington, not being in a condition to 
cope with Cornwallis, his army being exhausted with 
fatigue, without blankets, and many of them bare- 
footed, found it necessary to abandon the design of 
proceeding to Brunswick, and retired to Morristown, 
in order to put his men under cover. The effect of 
this bold and judicious movement was most salutary, 
as it revived the drooping spirits of the people, and re- 
lieved New Jersey of the presence of an enemy, 
e* 



54 THE traveler's glide. 

HOTELS. 

Trenton House, kept by Mr. Snovvden. 

Indian Queen, " N. Bashford. 

RisirtfT Sim, " Joshua Eniflish. . 

Golifen Swan, " Mrs. Pitcher. 

Golden Lamb, « Mrs. Heslon. 

Warren Hotel, " .L McCarrier. 

City Kotpl, " Samuel Crosby. 

Mercer House, " Chas. VV. Warner, 

Washinoton House, " Charles Howell. 

Farmers' inn, " Mr. Gieen. 

Sla<Tes leave Trenton daily, through New Hope, Lam- 
bertsville, and other towns to Easton, Pa.; also, for 
Bordentown, Mount Holly, and Princeton. Three 
times a week stages leave for Pennington, Flemington, 
and Belvidere, &c. 



Soon after leaving the depot the road runs in a straight 
line, for about two miles, through a fine level country, 
rich and well cultivated. An excellent view of Tren- 
ton is afforded in the rear. About five miles from the 
depot, we pass the old turnpike road from Trenton 
to New Brunswick. 

At the 13th mile post from Bordentown, we pass a 
small place called Clarksville, a scattered village con- 
taining a dozen or twenty dwellings; and two miles 
further, we reach the stopping-place for passengers from 
Princeton. This is ten miles from Trenton. The 
town of Princeton lies on an eminence on the left. The 
College, a long building with a cupalo, a beautiful 
Gothic church, and other public buildings, are seen 
from the road. 



SKETCH OF PRINCETON. 55 

PRfiNC.ETOI¥. 

Princeton, one of the prettiest villages in New Jer- 
sey, is distinoruished as the seat of Nassau Hall, one of 
the oldest and most respectable colleges in the United 
States, and of the Theological Seminary of the Presby- 
terian Church. It contains a Presbyterian Church, about 
250 houses, and a population of 3037. The College 
was founded in 1746, at Elizabethtown ; the next year 
it was removed to Newark, and a royal charter was 
granted to it in 1748, by the title of the College of 
New Jersey, which is its corporate title at present. 
It remained in Newark ten years, and in 1757, was 
permanently established in Princeton. 

The College edifice, a handsome stone building, is 
175 feet long, 50 feet wide, four stories high, and 
stands on an elevated and healthful spot, commanding 
an extensive and delightful prospect. It contains an 
excellent library of about 8000 volumes, and a stu- 
dent's library of 4000 volumes. Besides a chapel 40 
feet square, there are two other buildings attached to 
the College, which' contain philosophical apparatus, 
museum, recitation rooms, &;c. These buildings are 
all of stone. The number of students ranges from 75 
to 150. 

The College has a Board of Trustees, consisting of 
twenty-three members. The Governor of the State i«, 
ex-officio, president of this Board ; one half of the 
members are clergymen. The system of education is 
full and complete, and the reputation of its faculty is 
very high. The institution has produced a great num- 
ber of eminent scholars. 

The Theological Seminary of ihe Presbyterian 
Church in ttie United States, was established at Prince- 
ton in 1812. The Associate Reformed Church after- 



56 THE traveler's guide, 

wards united with the Presbyterian, and thence their 
seminaries were joined. A stone edifice, capable of 
accommodating 100 students, is appropriated to this 
institution. 

The Seminary has five professors, and a library of 
1000 volumes. A residence of three years is required 
to complete the course of study. Candidates for ad- 
mission are required to produce testimonials of good 
natural talents, of good moral and religious character, 
of belonging to some regular church, and of having 
passed through a regular course of academical studies. 
Tuition and the use of the library are afibrded free of 
expense to every student, and there are charitable 
funds for aiding the indigent to pay expenses of board, 
&c. 

For an account of the battle of Princeton, in 1777, 
in which Gen. Mercer was killed, see page 53. 



Two miles from the Princeton stopping place, the 
canal is carried over a deep ravine on a substantial and 
well-built acqueduct. Soon after this the canal di- 
verges to the left, and is no longer visible from the 
rail-road. The small, but eligibly situated village of 
Kingston, is passed in this vicinity, about a mile be- 
yond which the old common road to New Brunswick 
is again crossed by the rail-road. Ditches are found 
here on each side of the road, to draw off the water 
after heavy rains. 

After leaving the canal we have no mile posts to di- 
vide the distances, until we reach New Brunswick, 
For several miles after leaving Kingston, we pass 
through low, marshy ground, pretty thickly covered, 
in places, with woods. Five miles from Kingston, 



FROM PHILADELPHIA TO NEW YORK.] 57 

we pass a place on the right, called Dean's Saw Mill, 
where there is a large pond, celebrated as a good fish- 
ing place. On the left, is the small village of Rocky 
Hill — not visible, however, from the cars. This is 
eight miles from New Brunswick. Beyond this the 
road runs in a straight line for several miles, through 
land generally flat and woody. Then the country be- 
comes more thickly settled, and we soon arrive at the 

L,OWER TANK STATSO]^,* 
A depot for wood and water for the locomotive, but 
used only occasionally, in case of severe storms. This 
station is four miles from New Brunswick. Half a 
mile beyond this we strike the straight turnpike road 
to New Brunswick, and here commences what is called 
the New Jersey Rail-Road and Transportation Com- 
pany, extending to Jersey City. The rail-road from 
Bordentown to this place is a branch of the Camden 
and Amboy Rail-Road. At New Brunswick, there 
are different agents and conductors, and a fresh loco- 
motive. 

About two miles from New Brunswick the road 
crosses a small run on an embankment at least twenty 
feet high; and half a mile beyond, is another embank- 
ment, similarly elevated, and constructed at no little 
expense. The approach to New Brunswick is very 
beautiful, the scenery in the neighborhood being high- 
ly attractive, and the site of the city remarkably eligi- 
ble. The steeples of several churches, and many 

* Between Trenton and New Brunswick there is no regu- 
lar stopping-place for the trains to pass each other, there be- 
ing sidelings or turn-outs, at the distance of every three 
miles. Each train continues on until the other is in sight, 
and then one or the other retrogades to \.he nearest turn-out. 



58 THE traveler's guide. 

prominent buildings are seen advantageously from the 
road. Just before reaching the depot, we pass, on the 
right, the new Court House, a large and handsome 
building; and on the left Rutger's College, a neat and 
spacious stone edifice, surmounted with a cupalo, and 
having a beautiful lawn in front. The city of New 
Brunswick is said to be remarkably healthy. The 
soil in the vicinity is of a reddish cast, and contains 
much slate. 'I'he extensive prevalence of red paint 
about the dwelling-houses, is a matter generally no- 
ticed by strangers. 

At the depot, called the 

WB31V BRIJN§WI€K STATION, 

Is a very extensive and commodious building, for office 
purposes, refreshment house, &c. Here the cars usual- 
ly stop ten minutes. 



NEW BRUIVSWICK. 

The city of New Brunswick is situated partly in 
Somerset, and partly in Middlesex counties. It is 17 
miles by the river above Raritan bay, 30 miles by rail- 
road, and 40 by water S. W. of New York. The 
part of the city lying along ihe river is the most an- 
cient, and presents a dilapidated appearance to the 
stranger; the city, however, contains many elegant 
private residences, and the public edifices do honor 
to the taste and liberality of the inhabitants. The ven- 
erable Rutger's (formerly Queen's) College, and the 
Grammar School connected with it, rank among the 
most respectable literary institutions in the Union. 
The Grammar School has from 60 to 80 pupils. A 
female seminary, under the direction of Miss Hoyti, 
enjoys a deservedly high reputation. 



SKETCH OP NEW BRUNSWICK. 59 

The Episcopal, Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, and 
Baptist Churches, and the new Court House, are 
creditable specimens of architecture. 

Of the first setdement of New Brunswick, we can 
gather but little information from public records. As 
late as the latter end of the 17th century, the site of 
the city was called Pigmore's Swamp, and was covered 
with woods. The first settlers were principally from 
Long Island. About the year 1730, several Dutch 
families from Albany settled here, and, building on 
what was then the public post road, the name of Al- 
bany street was given to it, by common consent, which 
name it still retains. 

The Delaware and Raritan Canal commences at 
New Brunswick, and running through Trenton, com- 
municates with the Delaware at Bordentown. It is 
43 miles long, 75 feet wide, and 7 feet deep. It has 
two tow paths, and is so constructed as to admit the 
passage of sloops not over 100 tons burthen. 

The trade of Brunswick is quite extensive, and to 
manufacturers the city offers many advantages. By 
means of the New Jersey Rail-Road, Brunswick may 
be said to be brought in the immediate neighborhood 
of New York. The Raritan, too, is navigable as far as 
this city, for vessels of 80 tons burthen, and a steam- 
boat runs daily for New York. The population of 
the city is about 9000. The stranger will find New 
Brunswick a pleasant resting place. Among several 
well-kept hotels, it may be sufficient to name the City 
Hotel, in Albany street, kept by Mr. Benj. Still ; the 
Mansion House, in Nelson street, kept by Mr. John 
Degraw, and the Bull's Head Tavern, corner of Bur- 
net and Market street, kept by Mr. Henry Smith, in 



60 THE traveler's guide. 

either of which the traveler will find every possible 
convenience and comfort. 



Leaving the depot at Brunswick, we cross the Rari- 
tan river on a beautiful and substantial bridge, from 
which a very fine view of the city and adjacent coun* 
try is afforded. The whole length of the bridge is 
1700 feet, or three-eights of a mile. It rests on four 
abutments and sixteen piers, built principally of gran- 
ite, from the state of Connecticut. The masonry is 
of the most substantial character. The height of the 
piers from the foundation to the top averages 35 feet. 
Whole cost of the bridge $135,212. The work was 
constructed under the direction of Thomas Hassard, 
Esq., architect and builder, and L. A. Sykes, Esq., 
chief engineer. There are double tracks of rails across 
the whole length of the bridge, and underneath the rail- 
way is a passage, also double, for carriages, wagons, 
and other vehicles. It is believed that this is the first 
viaduct constructed so as to allow vehicles to pass be- 
neath the rail-way. 

Between Brunswick and Jersey City the distances 
are marked by mile posts, the whole distance being 31 
miles. Passing through a level and well cultivated 
country, five miles from New Brunswick, we reach 
the small but thriving village of Metuchen. It con- 
tains a meeting-house* for the Seventh-day Baptists, 

* A very sharp skirmish between detachments of the Bri- 
tish and American armies took place at this mepting-house, 
durinsf the progress of the British across New Jersey, in 1777. 
The British were commanded hy Sir \A'illiam Howe, and 
the Americans by General Sterling. The Americans lost 
three field pieces and a few men. 



SKETCH OP RAHWaY. 61 

(lo which is attached a very extensive burial jrround,) 
and a number of comfortable dwellings. The Seventh- 
day Baptists, a very worthy and industrious people, 
are quite numerous in this neighborhood. 

At the 22d mile post, (from Jersey City,) is the vil- 
lage of Uniontown, containing a tavern and a dozen 
or twenty dwellings. Beyond this the country is open 
and undulating, and handsomely interspersed with 
woods. A number of neat and substantial farm-houses, 
and rich and well cultivated farms, are seen on either 
side of the road. At the 20th mile post we cross the 
Jersey City turnpike, and at the junction pass a white 
house, with shingled weather-boarding, the residence of 
Mr. Loveberry. This style of building is quite com- 
mon in this section of the country. 

Near the 19th mile post we arrive at the village of 
Rahway, lying on the right of the road. 



RAHWAY. 

This town includes Rahway proper, in Essex coun- 
ty, and Bridgton (as formerly called,) in Middlesex 
county, both now commonly called Rahway. The 
rail-road here, as in many of the other towns of this 
route, passes through the outskirts, and gives the pas- 
senger but an imperfect idea of the place. Rahway is 
five miles distant from Elizabethtown, and eighteen 
miles from Jersey City. Its inhabitants number from 
three to four thousand, and in prosperous times a large 
amount of business is transacted in the manufacture of 
carriages, clothing, hats, and shoes for the southern 
trade. There is here one Presbyterian Church, a fine 
large brick building lately erected, one Methodist, one 
Baptist, also two Friends' meeting-houses ; one bank, 

F 



62 THE traveler's guide. 

called the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Rahway, 
with a capital stock of $200,000. There are three 
public houses in the lower part of the town, of which 
the Mansion House at the rail-road depot is the largest 
and best. This building was erected in 1836-7, by a 
company of individuals, at a cost of from eight to ten 
thousand dollars. It is large and commodious, and is 
well kept. An omnibus is stationed at the depot on 
the arrival of the cars, in which passengers are con- 
veyed to any part of the town, free of charge. There 
is also a fine large hotel in the upper part of the town. 
There are two weekly papers printed here. 

The town is well provided with schools, having one 
large boarding-school for young ladies, of which Mrs. 
De Veuve is principal ; also a boys' boarding-school, 
kept by Rev. Mr. Ely, both of which are in the upper 
part of the town. In the lower village there are sev- 
eral other schools, the chief of which is the Athenian 
Academy, a large two story building, having separate 
apartments for boys and girls, and is in a very flour- 
ishing condition, under the charge of the principals, Mr. 
and Mrs. Anderson. This institution was also created 
by a company of individuals, who compose a Board of 
Trustees, consisting of gentlemen, residents of the town. 
To the institution is attached a large library and scien- 
tific apparatus. 

There are several large factories, calico and silk 
printing, and dye works, saw and grist mills, in the 
town and about the vicinity. The location is healthy 
and convenient, being but about one hour's ride from 
New York, whither a conveyance can be had, via the 
rail-road, several times daily. The surrounding coun- 
try is rich and fertile, and there are many beautiful 
private residences in and about the town. Rahway is 



SKETCH OF ELIZABETHTOWN. 63 

situated on Rahway river, at the head of its navigation. 
A line of packets, communicating daily with New 
York, also furnishes another convenient mode of access 
and transportation. The people are industrious, en- 
terprising, and hospitable. The original population 
consisted chiefly of Friends, by whom the town (that 
part called Bridgton more especially,) was settled, and 
of whom there are still many, though the population 
has become interspersed with people of all denomina- 
tions. 

There is also a German settlement near the lower 
part of the town, forming by their industry and me- 
chanical knowledge, in dyeing, manufacturing glue, 
cotton hats, &;c., &c., a valuable portion of the com- 
munity. 



Leaving the stopping-place, we cross Rahway river 
on a substantial bridge, along side of which is a bridge 
for the common road, and pass through a country of 
the same general character as that last noticed, the soil 
being a red shale. Four and a half miles from the 
bridge, we see, on the right, the beautiful country resi- 
dence of Charles King, Esq., editor of the New York 
American. This brings us to the village of Elizabkth- 
TOWN, and passing, on the right, the Presbyterian 
Church, with a fine steeple, we arrive at the stopping- 
place for way passengers. 



ELIZABETHTOWN. 

This town is the oldest settlement made by the 
English in New Jersey. It was first setded in 1664, 
by emigrants from Long Island; and in Sept. 1665, 
Gov. Philip Carteret, the brother of George Carteret, 



64 THE traveler's guide. 

the proprietor, arrived here from England with thirty- 
settlers, when it yet contained only four houses. He 
gave to the place its present name, EUzabethtown, in 
honor of the wife of his brother, Lady Elizabeth Car- 
teret. Through his exertions the town very rapidly 
increased with people from New England, Long Isl- 
and, and from Scotland. Gov. Carteret died here in 
1682. By the "concessions and agreements of the 
lords proprietors," a General Assembly was estab- 
lished in New Jersey, consisting of the governor, a 
council, and a house of burgesses. This assembly 
first met in this town, on the 26th of May, 1668 ; and 
with a few exceptions the General Assembly continued 
to meet here until 1682. The sessions of the Supreme 
Court are still held here. 

On the 8th of February, 1739, the borough of Eliza- 
beth received its charter of incorporation ; making it, 
as we believe, the oldest borough incorporation in the 
state. That charter, obtained when Lewis Morris was 
governor, remains, in its main features, very much un- 
altered to the present day. 

The First Presbyterian Congregation of this town, 
is the oldest English congregation of any kind in the 
state. It was formed in 1665, and the first house of 
worship erected by the English in the state, was built 
by them in 1667 or 8. It was in this church, proba- 
bly, that the first General Asemblies of the state sat ; 
and in it the Supreme Court held its sessions. It was 
burned on the 25th of January 1780, and the present 
large edifice, in which that congregation worships, is 
erected on the spot where it stood. 

The foundation of the Episcopal Church was laid in 
1706; this building was converted into a stable for the 
cavalry of the enemy, during the war of the Revolution, 



SKETCH OF ELIZABETHTOWN. 65 

but repaired immediately after, and occupied by a re- 
spectable congregation ever since. 

In this town the College of New Jersey was founded 
in 1746, under the presidency of the Rev. Jonathan 
Dickenson. The first classes attached to that college 
were taught in an old building, burned in the war of 
the Revolution, which stood where the lecture room 
of the First Presbyterian Church now stands. On 
the death of Dickenson, in 1747, it was removed to 
Newark, when the Rev. Aaron Burr, the father of the 
celebrated Aaron Burr, was elected president. In 1757 
it was removed to Princeton. 

Elizabethtown at the last census contained a popu- 
lation of 4184. It is pleasantly situated about 14 miles 
from New York, and 5 from Newark. The facilities 
by cars and steam-boats afford twelve passages each 
way daily, to and from New York, which with its 
healthy position, and moral and intelligent inhabitants, 
render it a most desirable place of residence. 

Many of the business men of New York have lo- 
cated their families here, where they enjoy the advan- 
tages of excellent schools, and pleasant society, and 
whence they can reach the city in an hour from the 

time of leaving their homes. 

/ 

There are two large brick Presbyterian Churches, 
with good congregations, an Episcopal Church, also 
of brick, which has lately been enlarged and improved, 
(in rebuilding this church after the Revolution the 
workmen were compelled to mount guard at night, to 
preserve the walls thy were erecting from the attacks 
of political emissaries,) a Methodist Church, and a 
Roman Catholic Chapel now being erected. The ac- 
commodations for boarders are such as give the great- 



6Q THE traveler's guide. 

est satisfaction; and the town is quite a resort for 
strangers and travelers. 

The Elizabethtown and Somerville Rail-Road, now 
finished from Elizabethport to Somerville, a distance 
of 26 miles, crosses the New Jersey Rail-Road at the 
Elizabethtown depot. The road to Somerville passes 
through a fine agricultural and manufacturing district, 
and already is used for transporting a large number of 
passengers and freight, which will be greatly increased 
when the road is completed to the Delaware, it will 
then be the most direct and important communication 
between the city of New York and the coal region of 
Pennsylvania. 

There are in Elizabethtown among other important 
manufactories, two extensive oil floor-cloth factories, 
— the Elizabethtown factory, owned by Albro, Hoyt 
&, Co., and the New Jersey oil floor-cloth factory, 
owned by J. B. Clark, Esq., and conducted by J. D. 
Edwards, Esq. The articles manufactured at these 
establishments, both for beauty and durability, will not 
suff"er by comparison with any others manufactured 
either in this country or Europe. 



About two and a half miles from Elizabethtown, we 
have on our right, what are called the Salt Meadows, 
a very extensive track of low ground, extending down 
to the Passaic river, which we follow for several miles. 
The high ground to the right of the river is Staten Isl- 
and ; it is beautifully undulating, and presents many 
attractive views. Nine miles from Jersey City, we 
arrive at 

IVEWAKK. STATION, 
Where the Company have erected a truly splendid and 



SKETCH OF NEWARK. 67 

extensive depot. The approach to this place is strik- 
ingly handsome, and never fails to arrest the attention 
of travelers. 



NETTARK. 

The town of Newark was settled in May, 1666, by 
emigrants from Connecticut, at the head of whom was 
the celebrated Capt. Robt. Treat. The track of land 
which now forms Newark township, was purchased of 
the Indians for ^130 New England currency, 12 blan- 
kets, and 12 guns. In the original articles of asso- 
ciation, no person could become a freeman, or be al- 
lowed to vote in town meeting, unless he were a mem- 
ber of some church. The first minister in the town, 
was the Rev. Abraham Pierson, called a moderate 
Presbyterian, whose salary was fixed at £30 per an- 
num. In 1736, the Rev. Aaron Burr, an eminent scho- 
lar and divine, was installed as pastor of the Presby- 
terian Church, ' His son Aaron, at one time Vice 
President of the United States, was born here. As 
far back as 1682 the place was celebrated for the good 
quality of its cider, the reputation of which is still very 
high. 

Newark now contains a population of 17,290. 
The town was incorporated into a city in 1836. It 
has churches for Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopa- 
lians, Roman Catholics, Baptists, Dutch Reformed, and 
Universalists, in all 25. There are several banks and 
insurance companies, 18 hotels, 35 dry good stores, 
and upwards of 100 groceries. Besides these, there 
are boot, shoe, and hat manufactories, leather dealers, 
coach manufactories, silver and brass platers, master 
builders, &c., forming a community of merchants and 



6S THE traveler's GUIDE. 

mechanics, greater than may be found in any city of 
similar size in the state. The city is governed by a 
mayor, recorder, and aldermen. 

Newark is advantageously situated on the west bank 
of the Passaic river,* which empties into Newark bay. 
A large and increasing trade is carried on between the 
city and New York, and other ports ; in which trade 
a very large number of vessels are employed. Several 
whale ships are owned here, by a chartered company. 

The annual exports of Newark, in prosperous busi- 
ness seasons, have been ascertained to amount to the im- 
mense sum of from eight to ten millions of dollars. 
These exports consist chiefly of the manufactured 
goods produced in the numerous factories, such as 
carriages, saddlery and harness, shoes, caps and 
hats, cutlery, plated ware, brass and iron castings, 
coaeh lace, patent leather, cal)inet ware, window 
blinds, chairs, trunks, jewelry, Sec. The shipments 
are made principally to the southern ports of the 
United States, South America, and the West India 
Islands. Besides the large amount of goods manu- 
factured for foreign markets, large quantities of va- 
rious kinds are produced for New York, Philadel- 
phia, &c. The increase in the population and bu- 
siness of Newark since 1830, has been very great, 
and until the revulsion in business, a year or two 

* The Passaic river rises in a large swamp in Morris coun- 
ty, and pursues a very winding course, until it unites with 
the Hackensack, at the head of Newark bay. It is navigable 
about ten miles to Acquackanonck. The Great Falls, at the 
manufacturing village of Paterson, is among the greatest 
natural curiosities in the state. The river is about 40 yards 
wide, and the fall is about 70 feet perpendicular, in one en- 
tire sheet. 



SKETCH OF NEWARK. 69 

since, the onward progress of this place was almost 
unexampled. 

The Morris Canal was completed in 1832, thus 
furnishing the city with a direct and easy commu- 
nication with the Delaware at Easton, and the Le- 
high coal mines at Mauch Chunk. The Morris and 
Essex Rail-Road, v/hich was finished in 1838, com- 
mences at Newark, intersecting the N. J. Rail-Road, 
near the rail-road bridge. It runs in a circuitous 
westerly direction to Morristown, a distance of 22 
miles, passing through the towns of Orange, 
Springfield, and Chatham. The means of inter- 
course with New York are easy and frequent (al- 
most hourly), and the cost a mere trifle. 

At the commencement of the revolutionary war 
the inhabitants were much divided in sentiment on 
political questions, and several families joined the 
loyalists in New York. Among these was the Rev. 
Mr. Brown, pastor of the Episcopal church. The 
town suffered much during the war from British 
marauding parties. On the night of the 25th Jan- 
uary, 1780, a regiment of British troops from New 
York, under Col. Lumm, burned the public acade- 
my. In leaving the place, the soldiers dragged 
from a sick bed, and took with them, Joseph Hed- 
den, Esq., an active whig. Mr. H. died in a few 
days from exposure and ill-treatment. 

HOTELS. 

United States' Hotel, 318 Broad street, kept by Edward Stewart, 

South Ward Hotel, Broad & Hill st. " J. R. Donaldson, 

Park House, 27 Park Place, " D. D. Chandler. 

Mansion House, Broad street, '* G. W. Blake. 

Farmers' & Mech. Hall, 124 Broad street " Jacob Youngblood. 

Traveler's Tavern, Broad near New St., " W. Starr. 

Cadet Hall, Broad near Walton, " G. D. Small. 

Market street Hotel, Market near River, " G. G. Sickles. 

Star Tavern, Market k. Commerce, " W. Moore. 



70 THE traveler's GUIDE. 

At Newark, we cross, on a substantial bridge, the 
Morris Canal* and the Passaic river. On the left 
is seen the handsome and comfortable residence of 
Major William Wright. There are many other 
beautiful mansions in this neighborhood, generally 
the fruit of well-directed industry and enterprise. 

Having a continuation of salt meadows on our 
right, we reach Hackensagk River, distant three 
and a half miles from Jersey City. The river, 
which empties into Newark bay, is crossed on an 
elegant bridge, immediately along side of a bridge 
for the common road. The rail- road bridge was 
destroyed by fire, about three years ago, and rebuilt 
in thirty days. 

At the river, on the left, the traveler will notice 
a singular mound, called Rattlesnake Hill.I 

* The Morris Canal commences at Easton, on the Dela- 
ware, and, after pursuing a circuitous route of 101 miles, 
terminates at Jersey City. In its course it has a total rise 
and fall of 1669 feet, which is overcome by locks and inclin- 
ed planes. The summit level is 915 feet above the Atlantic 
ocean. 

f The second vessel which arrived in the Hudson, from 
Holland, called the Goede Vrouw, anchored a little to the 
east of Gibbet's Island. " Here liftincr up their eyes, the 
crew beheld," says Knickerbocker in his inimitable History 
of New York, " on what is at present called the Jersey shore, 
a small Indian villag-e, pleasantly embowered in a grove of 
spreading elms, and the natives all collected on the beach, 
gazing in stupid admiration at the vessel. A boat was im- 
mediately despatched to enter into a treaty with them, and 
approaching the shore, hailed them through a trumpet, in the 
most friendly terms'. But so horribly confounded were these 
poor savages, at the tremendous and uncouth sounds of the 
Low Dutch language, that they one and all took to their 



SKETCH OP NEWARK. 71 

Just beyond the river, is the Paterson rail-road; 
passing which we enter a rocky excavation, called 
the Bergen Ridge, through which the road winds 
for a considerable distance. The, heavy cutting 
through this rocky section, was attended with enor- 
mous expense. The excavation is crossed by two 
bridges. On the right is the village of Bergen, 
containing a handsome church, and a number of 
neat and comfortable dwellings. From a spring in 
the Bergen Ridge, a stream of water is conveyed 
to Jersey City, to supply the locomotives. About 
a mile from Jersey City, is the princely residence 
of Judge Sipp, built of the flint rocks found here. 
The grounds attached to the mansion are laid out 
with much taste and elegance. Just before we ar- 
rive at Jersey City, we pass through the pleasant 
village of Harsimeus, containing a number of ele- 
gant private residences, and several hundred inha- 
bitants. The approach to Jersey City is distin- 
guished by a number of very pretty white houses, 
some of which are embellished with columns in 
front, and many are rendered still more attractive 
by neatly enclosed gardens. The country is rich 
and well cultivated, and the pervading aspect is 
that of neatness and comfort. 



heels, and scampered over the Bergen hills; nor did they 
stop until they had buried themselves, head and ears, in the 
marshes on the other side, where they all miserably perished 
to a man — and their bones being collected and decently cov- 
ered by the Tamany Society of that day, formed that singu- 
lar mound called Rattlesnake Hill, which rises out of the 
centre of the salt marshes, a little to the east of the Newark 
Causeway." 



72 THE traveler's guide. 

JERSEY CITY. 

Jersey City is pleasantly situated on a point of 
land projecting into the Hudson river, originally 
called Powles' Hook. The river is here rather 
over a mile in width, and the city is connected with 
New York by one of the best ferries in the Union. 
Many circumstances tend to make this place one 
of great importance. The town was incorporated 
into a city in 1838. The municipal authority con- 
sists of a mayor and board of aldermen, elected 
annually by the people. Jersey City contains 
churches for Episcopalians, Methodists, Dutch Re- 
formed and Roman Catholics. The popula'ion is 
about 3800, being an increase of 1700 since 1837. 

The city is well laid out, and has wide and com- 
modious streets, crossing each other at right an- 
gles, and forming blocks of two acres each, which 
are subdivided inlo lots, 25 by 100 feet. 

Besides the rail-road upon which we have been 
traveling, the Paterson and Hudson Rail-Road 
also commences at this place, and is continued to 
Paterson, a distance of 17 miles. The depot for 
the two companies, which is immediately opposite 
the ferry, is spacious and elegant, and presents a 
very imposing appearance. It is provided with 
commodious sitting rooms for ladies and gentle- 
men, and with oiher conveniences. The Morris 
canal terminates here, as is elsewhere noticed. — 
From the magnitude of these public works, and the 
fact that Jersey City is now the starting point of 
the great line of southern travel from New York, 
the place cannot fail to increase rapidly in popula- 
tion, wealth and importance. 

The N. J. Rail-Road Co. have here extensive 



SKETCH OP JERSEY CITY. 73' 

shops and machinery for manuracturing; and re- 
pairing; locomotives, cars, (fee. There are also a 
large i^lass manufactory, and perhaps the most ex- 
tensive pottery in the United States. 

The noted a.id fashionable place of summer re- 
sort, known as the Thatched Cottage, is but a short 
walk from the ferry. It has been most excellently 
conducted, for the last ten years, by Mr. Samuel 
Lynch, a model of politeness, and universally popu- 
lar. In the vicinity of the rail-road depot, is the 
American Hotel, a first-rate public house, kept by 
Mr. Harvey Miller. This is a large and airy estab- 
lishment, and the proprietor is well known as an 
excellent caterer. 

Among the number of elegant private residences 
is the costly mansion of the present mayor, D. S. 
Gregory, Esq. The city is greatly indebted to 
this enterprising gentleman for its recent rapid 
growth. 

At Jersey City, which is immediately opposite 
New York, and distant about 2000 yards, we take 
the steamboat connected with the ferry at the foot of 
Liberty street. Here the baggage cars are opened, 
and travelers are invited to select their baggage, 
and have it ready for removal. The Company have 
adopted that very convenient arrangement whereby 
the passenger receives a duplicate check corres- 
ponding with the one attached to his trunk. Those 
who do not design to procure a carriage on land- 
ing, will find careful porters on board the boat, who 
will convey the trunks to any of the hotels, at rea- 
sonable charges. 

From the boat we have a fine view of the North 

G 



1 



74 



THE TRAVELER S GUIDE, 



river front of the city, with the steeples of St, 
Paul's, Trinity and other churches, the City Hall, 
Exchange, and various other prominent public 
buildings. Castle Garden, the Battery, Fort \Vil- 
liam, and the Narrows, are on the right; and u|) the 
river, on the left, is a beautiful view of the heights 
of Hoboken, the Palisades, and various other points 
of especial interest. The extensive ranges of ship- 
ping at the wharves, presenting literally " a forest of 
masts;" the numerous sail-boats dotting the surface 
of the bay, the darting in an out of steamboats of all 
sizes, from the humble ferry-boat, to the proud North 
river steamer; the presence of one or more stately 
ships of the line, and the unceasing hum of acti- 
vity on the shore, give great life and animation to 
this scene, which, it is probable, is not to be ex- 
ceeded for beauty or interest, by any other place in 
the world. 

Having thus conducted the traveler to the gay 
and active city of New York, the commercial me- 
tropolis of our country, we beg to commend him 
to some one of the following hotels : — 

PRINCIPAL HOTELS IN NEW YORK. 



Astor House, 
American. 
Franklin House, 
Howard's Hotel, 
City Hotel, 
Globe Hotel, 
Waverly House, 
Mansion House, 
Clinton Hotel, 
Carlton House, 
Pearl street House, 
U. S. Hotel, 
Western Hotel, 
St. George's Hotel, 
Delmonico's, 
Park Place House, 



221 Broadway, kept 

22i) Broadway, " 

197 Broadway, *' 

B'dway & Maiden Lane " 

Broadway & Cedar st. " 

61 Broadway, " 

B'way & Exchange Place, " 

37 Broadway, " 

Beekman street, " 

Broadway & Leonard, " 

88 Pearl street, . " 

Pearl & Fulton sts., " 

9 Courtlandt street, " 

66 Broadway, " 

W^illiani & Heaver sts. " 

Broadway &,Park Place, " 



by Colman & Stetson. 
H. B. Cozzens. 
Hayes &. Treadwell. 

D. D. Howard. 
Jennings & Willard, 
F. Blancard. 
Ormsbee «fe Carter. 
W^. J. Bunker. 

P. Hodges 
Hodges &. Benson. 
Flint & Leonard. 

E. R. Vale. 
E. Secor. 

C. G. Stoppani. 
Dehnonico & Brothers. 
E. G. Elliott. 



FROM SOUTH AMBOY TO NEW YORK. 



75 



Washington Hotel, 
Lovejoys Hotel, 
Pacific Hotel, 
Eastern Pearl st. H. 
Dutchess & Orange 

Co. House, 
Philadelphia Hotel, 
Treniont Temp. H., 
Shakspeare House, 
Tlie Cornucopia, 
ri3"For rates of 



Broadway & Read st., 
BeHknian"st.& Park Row, 
lt;'2 Greenwich street, 
, 30!) Pearl street, 

Cortlandt & Wash'n. sts.. 
Battery Place & Wash. st. 
Broadway & Pine, 
11 Park liow, 
Park Row, 
cab fare, see page 93. 



John Marriner 
J. Lovejoy. 
Jessnp & Nichols. 
George Seeley. 

Smith Dunning. 
Mrs. Petit. 

E, Windust. 
Luscombe & Sanborn. 



OUTSIDE PASSAGE FKOiH SOUTH AM- 
BOY TO JKEW lORK. 

Leaving South Amboy we pass a point called 
Old Feury, and cross over to Pkkth Amboy, to 
land and receive passengers. Casting loose from 
here, we very soon pass, on our left, what is called 
BiLLip's, or Ward's Point, being the extreme point 
of Staten Island. Opposite to the point is a Ouoy 
to indicate the channel. We are here in the midst 
of extensive and valuable oyster beds, some notice 
of which will^ be found in our account of Perth 
Amboy, on page 13. Immense quantities of oys- 
ters, from this region, are annually packed up in 
kegs, and sent to the western country, where they 
find a ready market. 

On the right, the New Jersey side, we have the 
mouth of a small stream, with the very singular 
name of CnEESEquAKES Creek, the etymology of 
which it would, perhaps, be difficult to ascertain. 
Beyond this is Middletown Cheek leading up to 
MiDDLETowN PoiNT, about two miles distant. The 
village is eligibly situated, and contains two church- 
es, a number of good stores, and about 100 dwell- 
ings. Large quantities of pork, grain, wood and 
vegetables are sent from here to the city of New 
York. The point on the farther side of Middle- 
town Creek is called Conaskunk Point. 



76 THE traveler's guide, 

Opposite, on Staten Island, is Block House 
Light, situated on ahig^h bank, and a very conspicu- 
ous object from the boat. This is about five miles 
from South Amboy. Here commences Prince's 
Bay, so celebrated for fine oysters. On the left 
is Moxee's Point, where there is a small village. 
A steamboat plies between here and New York 
daily. Beyond this, on the same side, is an inlet 
called Great Kills, in the vicinity of which is an 
extensive tract of marsh or salt meadow. The 
mouth of this inlet affords an excellent harbor, and 
is much resorted to by small craft, in stormy wea- 
ther. 

The point immediately opposite this, on the Jer- 
sey shore, is called Point Comfort. Beyond this 
are the Highlands of Neversink and Sandy Hook 
Point, with its light-house ; all of which are plainly 
visible, in clear weather, from the boat. We here 
open into a fine expanse of water, with a beautiful 
prospect of the Atlantic on our right. This view 
is always attractive, and to those who have never 
before seen the ocean, it is especially so. In most 
cases stately ships may be seen spreading their can- 
vass to the breeze, and this, to lands-people, is a 
most inspiring sight. 

Thou art sounding on, thou mighty sea, 

For ever and the same ! 
The ancient rocks yet ring to thee, 

Those thunders naught can tame. 

Thou liftest up thy solemn voice 

To every wind and sky, 
And all our earth's green shores rejoice 

In that one harnjony. 



FROM SOUTH AMBOY TO NEW YORK. 77 

It fills the noontide's calm profound, 

The sunset's heaven of gold; 
And the still midnight hears the sound, 

E'en as when first it roU'd. — Mrs. Hemans. 

Further on, on the left, is a village called the Elm 
Tree, consisting of a few houses only. The land 
here rises considerably, and presents many highly 
attractive views. The soil is generally under ex- 
cellent cultivation, and the pervading aspect is that 
of comfort and wealth. 

Passing on we approach the mouth of the Nak- 
iiows, the land on our right being Long Island — 
Coney Island, on the right, with its extensive white 
sandy beach, is plainly visible. This is an excellent 
sea bathing-place, and is much resorted to in the 
summer season, by visitors from New York and 
other places. Further on, we have Fort Richmond 
on our left, and FaRTS Lafayette and Hamilton, on 
the right ; of these fortifications, together with the 
numerous beautiful villages in this immediate vicin- 
ity, the traveler will find a notice commencing on p. 
4. Fairly in the Narrows, which are, in some places, 
only about three-fourths of a mile broad, the pros- 
pect is delightful, and the stranger is richly reward- 
ed for the trouble and expense of his trip, by an in- 
spiring sight, such as may be found in no other part 
of our country. 

Very soon we enter New York bay, and have a 
fine view of the islands, the forts, the city, and its 
extensive shipping. The excursionist, who returns 
in the boat through Staten Island Sound, will find 
all the leading points of interest described in the 
article commencing on page 3. 



78 THE traveler's guide. 



BUIl^F OUTLIIVE OF NEW YORK. 

New York city and county embraces the whole of Man- 
hattan Island, (so called from its Indian name,) bounded by 
Hudson, East, and Harlaem rivers, and Spuyten Duyvel 
creek. The island is about thirteen miles long-, one and a 
half miles wide, and contains about eighteen square miles, or 
an area of 14,000 acres. The compactly built parts of the 
city are confined to the southern point, formed by the junc- 
tion of East and Hudson rivers. About one-fourth of the isl- 
and is densely settled. The bay of New York forms one of 
the most beautiful and commodious harbors in the vvorld, 
beinir nine miles long-, by four broad. 

The streets in the lower part of the city are irreg^ular, and 
were formerly very narrow, but within a few years past 
great improvements have been made, at immense expense, 
in widenino- and straightening them. The disastrous fire of 
Dec. 16, 183.5, which destroyed property to the amount of 
about eighteen millions of dollars, laid waste a large district 
of the most valuable part of the city, which has since been 
entirely rebuilt with elegant and substantial fire-proof stores, 
with granite fronts. On the west side of the city the streets 
are more regular, and above Houston street, they are regu- 
larly laid out east and west, running, north of 12th street, 
from river to river, up to 1.55th street, nearly the entire ex- 
tent of the island. These are intersected with wide and 
beautiful avenues, running north and south. Broadway, 
which is the principal street, is eighty feet wide, and about 
three miles long. It is a most fashionable promenade, and 
contains many splendid stores and private dwellings. There 
are several beautiful rides on the avenues and roads leading 
to Harlaem, Yorkville, Bloomingdale, and Manhattanville. 
There is a rail-road to Harlaem, from Centre street, through 
Yorkville, affording a rapid and cheap conveyance at all 
hours.* 

* On tliis rail-road is a tunnel well worthy of a visit. It commences at 
91st street, and is eight hundred and forty-four feet in length, twenty four 
feet wide, and twenty-one feet high in tlie centre. Each end of the tunnel 



OUTLINE OF NEW YORK. 



79 



Brooklyn and Hoboken are also popular places of resort. 
At the latter place, which is delightfully situated on the 
banks of the Hudson, people of every gfrade in society, meet 
on a summer's day, when the heat of the city is oppressive. 
Some days there are not less than ten thousand visitors on 
the ground. The walks extend along the bank of the river 
for about a mile, and are shaded with noble trees. 

From Brooklyn Heights, which overlook East River, and 
part of the city of New York, is one of the most stirring 
views imaginable. The U. S. Navy Yard is on the east side 
of Brooklyn, on theWallabout bay. Visitors can readily ob- 
tain admission. Brooklyn is fast increasing in population and 
wealth, and already contains many excellent institutions, and 
a number of imposing public buildings. 

Other places of resort, for short excursions, are the islands 
in the bay, village of Williamsburgh, Flatbush, Fort Ham- 
ilton, Bath, Coney Island and Rockaway, places for sea-bath- 
ing, Staten Island, &c. 

Omnibuses are constantly passing through the principal 
streets of New York, from one end of the city to the other. 
The fare is moderate. 

Principal Public Buildings. 

Among the principal public buildings are the City Hall, 
the Exchange, Custom House, Hall of Justice, Astor House, 
University, Columbia College, the French Protestant Church, 
St. John's, St. Paul's, St. Thomas's and Trinity Churches, 
the Tabernacle, the New York Hospital, St. Patrick's Cath- 
edral, and several other splendid church edifices newly erect- 
ed in Duane and Grand streets, Broadway and Lafayette 
Place. 

The City Hall, one of the most splendid buildings in the 
United States, occupies a conspicuous situation in the Park, 
which contams an area of eleven acres. The Hall is faced 

is finished with a handsome stone facing, and on the south side are com- 
modious stairs, with an iron railing, ascending to the top of the hill. This 
tunnel is said to be as spacious as any other excavation of solid rock, made 
in modern times, not excepting the excavation of the Simplon,on the Alps. 
The approach to the Harlaem tunnel is remarkably interesting. 



80 THE traveler's GUIDE. 

with white marble, and is two hundred and sixteen feet long", 
one hundred and five feet wide, and sixty-five feet high in 
the centre. The rear of the building- is of brown free-stone. 
This building exhibits, in great perfection, several orders of 
Grecian architecture. Rising from the middle of the roof is 
a cupalo, on which is a colossal figure of justice. The City 
Hall contains the Common Council Room, and a great va- 
riety of public offices. The Council Room is fitted up with 
great convenience and taste, and is ornamented with portraits 
of several distinguished public characters. The Governor's 
Room, in the centre of the building, has a still greater num- 
ber of portraits. The foundation of this building was laid 
in 1803, and it was completed in 1812, at an expense of 
$538,734. The Hall of Record, east of the City Hall, for- 
merly a jail, is also a neat, chaste building. In the rear, 
fronting on Chambers street, is a range of buildings two 
hundred and sixty feet long, formerly the alms-house, now 
called the New York Institution, and occupied for Court 
rooms, Grand Jury rooms, police office, watch-house, &c., 
The Rotunda, in the Park, facing Chambers street, is now 
used as the City Post Office. 

The Merchant's Exchange is a magnificent structure, 
much larger and more elegant than the one destroyed by fire 
in 1835. It embraces all the ground between Wall, Wil- 
liam, Exchange Place and Hanover streets, covering the 
entire block. The building is of the Grecian Ionic style of 
architecture, and the exterior, which is constructed of blue 
Quincy granite, is of the most chaste and beautiful character. 
The Wall street front has eighteen massive columns. The 
public Exchange room, is eighty feet in height, and eighty 
feet in diameter, having four recesses, making an extent of 
one hundred feet in depth and breadth. The room is sur- 
mounted by a dome, resting, in part, on eight Corinthian col- 
umns of white marble, forty-one feet high. It is lighted by 
a sky-light, twenty-five feet in diameter. The Exchange 
contains many other rooms, occupied as public and private 
offices. The whole building reflects great credit on the good 
taste and enterprise of the mercantile community. 

The new Custom House, at the corner of Wall and Nas- 



OUTLINE OF NFAV YORK. 81 

sau street, Is also a mo=t cosily and magnificent building-. 
Il is one hundred and seventy-seven feet long, and eighty- 
nine feet wide, and is modeled after the Parthenon at Athens. 
The fronts present splendid colonades, with massy columns 
of the Doric order, more than five feet in diameter, and thirty- 
two feet high, including the capitals. The building is of 
two stories above the basement, excepting the great business 
hall, a part of which is vaulted to the roof The centre of 
the building is surmounted by a dome, sixty-two feet in di- 
ameter. The floors are supported on arches of stone, and 
the building is incombustible. The cost is estimated at over 
half a million of dollars. 

The AsTOR Hotel is a plain massive building of granite, 
two hundred and one feet on Broadway, occupying the whole 
front between Barclay and Vesey street, opposite the Park ; 
one hundred and fifty-four feet deep, and five stories high. 
Very elegant stores occupy the basement front. The build- 
ing, which is seventy-seven feet high, contains between 
three and four hundred rooms. The dining room is one hun- 
dred feet by forty feet. 

The Hall of Justice occupies what was formerly the 
Corporation yard, being the block bounded by Leonard, Elm, 
Franklin and Centre streets. It is two hundred and fifty- 
three feet in length, by two hundred feet in breadth. The 
interior combines accommodations for the Court of Sessions, 
Police, House of Detention, City Watch, Sheriff, &c. The 
four facades, as well as the entrance hall, are executed in 
the Egyptian style of architecture, with Hallowell granite. 
The whole building presents a neat and imposing appearance. 
The House of Detention is a distinct and isolated building, 
one hundred and forty-two feet in length by forty-five feet in 
width. It contains one hundred and forty-eight cells, the di- 
mensions of which are six feet nine inches wide, eleven feet 
high, and fifleen feet long. The floors, ceilings, and galle- 
ries are formed of slates from the North River flagging ; the 
doors and window jambs are of iron, and the entire cells are 
otherwise finished on the most approved plan of security. A 
bridge leads across from the House of Detention to the pris- 
oner's seat in the Hall of Justice. 

H 



82 THE traveler's guide. 

The University is a splendid bnildinof of white marble, in 
the Gothic or Enoiish collegiate style of architecture, front- 
ing Washington Square. It is one hundred and eighty feet 
by one hundred. The chapel, a master-piece of pointed ar- 
chitecture, is somewhat similar to that of King's College, 
Cambridge, England. It receives light from a window twen- 
ty-four feet wide, and' fifty feet high. 

Columbia College is a fine stone building, established as 
far back as 1754, under the name of King's College, which 
it retained until the Revolution. The estate belonging to 
this college is valued at $400,000. The libraries contain 
about 15,000 volumes. 

The Penitentiary, situated on Blackwell's Island, is an 
immense edifice, four stories high, built of stone, wrought 
from the quarries by convicts. 

The Almshouse, established at Bellevue, on the East 
River, is a spacious edifice of stone, with numerous buildings 
as appendages. The location is remarkably salubrious and 
pleasant. Attached to the establishment are several farms 
on Long Island, where between six and seven hundred poor 
children are supported and educated. 

The Mercantile Library Association and the Clinton Hall 
Association, have a fine building on the corner of Nassau and 
Beekman streets. The library contains about ISyOOO vol- 
umes, and is yearly increasing. The Library Association 
is composed of merchant's clerks, a very interesting body 
of young men. The Lyceum of Natural History and the 
Stuyvesant Institute, have chaste and elegant buildings on 
Broadway; the Lyceum has a library and museum. The 
N. Y. Society Library, founded in 1754, has above 20,000 
volumes. The American Institute, incorporated in 1829, 
was established for the encouragement of domestic industry, 
in agriculture, manufactures and the arts. The Mechanics' 
Institute is somewhat similar in its design, and both societies 
hold annual exhibitions of specimens of American industry. 
The Apprentices' Library was established in 1820, by the 
General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, who have 
also an excellent school. The College of Physicians and 
Surgeons is an excellent institution, in a prosperous condi- 



OUTLINE OF NEW YORK. 83 

tion. The College of Pharmacy, incorporated in 1831, to 
prevent impositions and errors in the preparation of medicine, 
is also a meritorious institulion. The New York Hospital, 
on Broadway, opposite Pearl street, was founded in 1771. 
It has a very large income. The Lunatic Asylum at Bloom- 
ingdale is connected with this hospital. The Institution for 
the Blind, is one of the mo?t interesting associations in the 
city. The pupils are taught music, and to read by raised 
letters, which they do with remarkable facility. Tliey are 
instructed also in the various branches of arithmetic, geogra- 
phy, grammar, (fee, as well as in weaving, basket makmg, 
&c. The new building is a remarkably elegant structure. 
The Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, also a noble charity, 
is located on a plot of ten acres, about three and a half miles 
from the City Hill, it receives from tlie State an annual 
appropriation of $17,500. The Academy of Fine Arts has a 
fine collection of paintinijs. The Historical Society has col- 
lected and preserved a vast number of records, appertaining 
to the early history of the United States, and the state of 
New York particularly. A beautiful building for the Astor 
Library, has recently been commenced on Lafayette and 
Astor Places — the dimensions are forty-five feet on the one, 
and sixty on the other. Mr. Astor, it is stated, will appro- 
priate $!300,00() for this institution. 

Among many other religious and benevolent institutions 
are the following : — American Bible Society, Tract Society, 
Home Missionary Society, Sunday School Union, Protestant 
Episcopal Education and Missionary Society, Roman Catho- 
lic Benevolent Society, Orphan's Asylum, Free Masons' So- 
ciety, Odd Fellows' Society, Education Society of the Re- 
formed Dutch Church, American and Foreign Bible Society, 
(Baptist,) Methodist Book Concern, St. Joseph's Catholic 
Institution for Orphans, the Dispensaries, Society for Promo- 
ting Education in Africa, Society for the Relief of the Widows 
and Children of Episcopal clergymen, Marine Bible Society, 
House of Refuge, Seamen's Friend Society, Female Assist- 
ance Society, Colonization Society, St. Nicholas's Society, 
St. George's Society, St. Andrew's Society, St. Patrick's 
Society, French Benevolent Society, German Society, &c. 



84 THE traveler's guide. 

Among' the various denominations of christians there are also 
a great number of benevolent and charitable institutions, 
which we have not space to notice in this brief sketch. 

Places of Amusement. 

The Park Theatre, in Park Row, wos erected in 1798, 
burned in 1820, and rebuilt in the next year. It is eighty- 
feet front, by one hundred and sixty-five feet in depth, and 
will contain about two thousand four hundred person?. The 
very low state of theatricals in New York compelled the 
manager, last winter, to introduce circus performances, at a 
greatly reduced price of admission. 

The American Theatre, Bowery, was erected and opened 
in 1826, within six months from the time the building was 
commenced. It was burnt down in 1828, rebuilt the same 
year, again destroyed by fire in 1836, and rebuilt in January 
1837. The present edifice is a fine specimen of Doric archi- 
tecture, the front being constructed after the model of the 
Temple of Minerva, at Athens. The interior is elegant, and 
fitted up in a superior style. The building is seventy-five 
feet in front, and one hundred and seventy-five feet in depth. 
The pit extends under the boxes, and is larger than that of 
Drury Lane Theatre, London. The capacity of the house is 
immense. Last winter the price of admission to the boxes 
was reduced to twenty-five cents. 

The National Theatre, corner of Church and Leonard 
street, was destroyed by fire in the summer of 1842, and 
has not been rebuilt. 

The Chatham Street Theatre, and the Olympic The- 
atre, are also popular places of resort. Niblo's Garden, 
corner of Broadway and Prince street, is one of the most 
fashionable places of resort in the city, during the summer 
months. It has been laid out with much taste, and the walks 
are bordered with shrubbery and flowers. Fire works are 
occasionally exhibited, and in the saloon, which is a very 
neat and elegant building, theatrical and musical entertain- 
ments are frequently given. 

The American Museum, on Broadway, opposite St. Paul's 



OUTLINE OT NEW YORK. 85 

Church, was founded by John Scndder, E-q., in 1810. ft 
contains an immense collection of curiosities, and is yearly 
increasinof in attraction. Peale's Museum, on Broadway, 
opposite the Park, was founded in 1825, and is also a most 
attractive place for visitors. The curiosities and paintings 
in this esfal)lishnient are very valuable. 

Castle Garden, connected with the Battery by a bridge, 
was erected for a fortification, but in 1823 was ceded by the 
United States to the corporation of New York, since which 
it has been leased for a place of public amusement or recrea- 
tion. Within the walls over ten thousand persons may be 
accommodated, and concerts and fire works are occasionally 
g-iven. 

Vauxhall Garden, near the junction of Broadway and 
tiie Bowery, was formerly a place of great resort in the sum- 
mer. 

The beautiful promenade called the Battery, originally a 
fortification thrown up by the Dutch, is situated on the south- 
west end of the island, and junction of the North and Ea*t 
rivers, and possesses attractions unsurpassed, perhaps, by any 
other similar place of resort in the world. It justly com- 
mands the admiration of every visitor. It is in lull view of 
the bay and surrouriding scenery of Long Island, Staten Isl- 
and, New Jersey, and the islands in the harbor. The nu- 
merous ships, steam-boats, and small vessels that are con- 
stantly entering and departing from the port, form a scene 
of stirring interest, and from no one point can a better idea 
be formed of the magnitude of the commerce of the city. 
The Battery extends somewhat in the form of a crescent, 
covers an area of nearly eleven acres, and is laid out in grass- 
plats and irravel walks, shaded with trees. The exterior, 
fronting the harbor, is built of hewn stone, and on this side 
is a paved walk. On every fine day hundreds of persons 
stroll here to enjoy the sea breeze, and the fine view of the 
bay. 

Washington Square, formerly Potter's Field, is another 
public walk, adorned with beautiful shade trees. It contains 
an area of about ten acres. St. John's Park is not open to 
the public. There are several other squares in the city, but 



86 THE traveler's guide. 

none are open to the public, exceptino- the Park, in front of 
the City Hall, which is a s^reat thoroughfare for foot passen- 
gers. The iron railing- around this place cost $15,653. A 
beautiful fountain has lately been opened in the lower sec- 
tion of this enclosure. The Bowling Green, at the south- 
ern termination of Broadway, is two hundred and twenty 
feet long, and one hundred and forty feet broad. In the 
middle of this area, formerly stood the statue of George III ; 
which, in the Revolutionary war, was taken down and con- 
verted into bullets. 

Churches.* 

St. John's Chapel, Varick street, is an elegant building, 
with a spire two hundred and forty feet high. An elegant 
park belongs to this church, occupyiog an entire square, op- 
posite the church. St. Patrick's Cathedral is one hundred 
and twenty feet long, by eighty feet wide, and is the largest 
church in the city. St. Paul's Church, near the Park, is a 
fine building, with a spire two hundred and thirty-four feet 
high. Trinity church is one of the oldest in the city. It 
was first built in 1696, burned in 1776, and rebuilt in 1778. 
It is again being rebuilt, and in a style far surpassing its 
former splendor. This church is probably ihe best endowed 
of any church in the United States. It is restricted by its 
charter to an actual revenue of £5000 per annum, and has 
be^n obliged to give up a vast property in the city, in order 
to keep within bounds. 

The grave yard attached to this church contain?, accord- 
ing to authentic records, 160,000 bodies, exclusive of those 
buried there during the Revolutionary war. Here is a mon- 
ument to Bishop Hobart, and another to Capt. James Law- 
rance, who was in the fight between the U. S. ship Chesa- 
peake, and the British ship Shannon. In St. Paul's church 
yard are monuments to Major Gen. Montgomery, and George 
Frederick Cooke, tragedian. 

* The first place of worship in the city was built by the Dutch, in the 
fort, near IBowliug Green. This ancient chapel was tlestroy(!(] by fire, in 
17-11. 



OUTLINE OF NEW YORK. 87 

Tlie church of the Ascension, in Canal street, is a chaste 
and classical edifice. The Presbyterian churches in Murray 
street, Wall street, and Duane street, are also beautiful 
buildings. Besides these, there are very nnany other places 
for Divine worship, which reflect great credit on the liber- 
ality and good taste of the denominations to which they be- 
long. 

There are 160 churches in the cit}', of which ]36 have 
been founded within the last forty years. Of the whole num- 
ber there are 38 Presbyterian, 2S Episcopalian, 25 Metho- 
dist, '23 Baptist, 16 Dutch Reformed, 7 Catholic, &c. &c. 

The Croton Water. 

After several unsuccessful attempts to secure a plentiful 
supply of pure water, the grand project of introducing water 
from the Croton river, has at length been completed. The 
accomplishment of this desirable object was celebrated, in 
New York city, in October last, by a most brilliant proces- 
sion, more extensive and imposing than any ever before wit- 
nessed. The aqueduct commences at the Croton river, 
five miles from the Hudson, in Westchester county. The 
dam is 250 feet long, and sets the river back five miles, cov- 
'^ring 400 acres, and holds five hundred millions of gallons. 
.From the dam the aqueduct proceeds, sometimes tunneled 
through solid rock, carried over valleys by embankments, and 
brooks by culverts, until it reaches Harlaem river, a distance 
of thirty-three miles. It is built of stone, brick and cement, 
arched over and under — is 6 ft. 9 in. wide at bottom, 7 ft. 5 
in. at top of side walls, and 8 ft. 5 in. high. It will discharge 
in twenty-four hours, sixty millions of gallons. Descent 13i 
inches per mile. The acqueduct will cross the Harlaem 
river on a magnificent bridge, 1450 feet long ; the water is 
now carried over in iron pipes. The Receiving Reservoir is 
at 86th street, thirty-eight miles from the dam ; it covers 
35 acres, and contains 150 millions of gallons. The water 
is conveyed to the Distributing Reservoir, on Murray's Hill, 
40th street, in iron pipes. This Reservoir is forty-one miles 
from the dam, covers four acres, built of stone and cement, 



88 THE traveler's guide. 

43 feet in height, and resembles a spacious castle or forf. 
It holds twenty millions of gallons. From this Reservoir iron 
pipes are laid under ground through the city. Water will 
rise in any part, 114 feet above tide, nearly as high as the 
clock of the City Hall. Over 110 miles of pipes are already 
laid. The whole cost will be about twelve millions of dol- 
lars. This most magnificent undertaking was projected in 
1832, by Col. Dewitt Clinton. It is justly the pride of the 
city. 

The Fire Department of New York, which is voluntary, is 
exceedingly efficient. The Fire Engines, Hose Carts, and 
Hook and Ladder Companies are in number over seventy, 
with a very large amount of hose, and a corps of firemen 
rising 1600. The Chief Engineer receives a salary of $1000 
per annum. Connected with the department is an institution 
for the relief of widows and orphans of deceased firemen, and 
to assist sick or disabled members and their families. The 
fund is large, and the annual disbursements amount to over 
seven thousand dollars. The officers are elected annually by 
representatives from the companies. 



The Banks and Insurance Companies in New York are 
very numerous. There are also several institutions for de- 
positing the savings of the poor, upon which interest is al- 
lowed. The city contains ten extensive market houses, 
which furnish an abundant supply of provision. There are, 
several excellent bath houses, and an establishment for salt 
water bathing, commodious and extensive, at the Battery. 

The public schools in New York are numerous and well 
conducted. The average number of pupils in actual attend- 
ance is probably 30,000. The annual receipts from the Com- 
missioners of the School Fund are about $90,000. All chil- 
dren have the privilege of attending these schools free of 
charge, not as charity or free schools, but as the common 
right of all. The teachers are of the highest character for 



OUTLINE OF NEW YORK. 89 

moral worth and mental qualification, and all the branches of 
English education are taught.* 

The periodical press of New York is extensive, and, in 
general, very ably conducted. The publication establish- 
ments of Harper &. Brothers, Appleton &- Co., and others, 
issue annually an immense amount of new works. 

The city is governed by a Mayor and Common Council, 
consisting of a Board of Aldermen, and a Board of Assistant 
Aldermen. Each ward elects an Alderman and an Assist- 
ant. The Corporation owns a large real estate, which is 
constantly increasing in value. 

The difference between high and low tides, at the wharves, 
averages about seven feet. The width of the East river, is 
from one-third to one-half of a mile to the opposite shore of 
Brooklyn. The Hudson river is one mile in width to Jersey 
City, and a mile and a half to Hoboken. 

The usual time for moving, established by general custom, 
in New York, is the 1st of May. To such an extent does 
this custom extend, as to be a great evil, May-day being pro- 
verbial for confusion, amounting to a partial suspension of 
business. 

Among the manufacturing establishments in the city and 
vicinity, are breweries, cotton factories, distilleries, glass 
factories, grist mills, iron works, paper mills, rope walks, 
saw mills, tanneries, woolen factories, &c. For supplying 
the city with gas there are two companies, with extensive 
works.]" 

* From a report made since this work was in tlie hands of the printer, it 
appears that there are now 97 schools under the supervision of the Uom- 
mon School Society, containinff ^l^iil? pupils. The estimated nun)'ber of 
pupils in the different schools of the city, not in char^eof the Public School 
Society, is 27,000. So that of the 62,952 children in New York, of a proper 
age to attend school, 50,217 are actually receiving instruction. 

t As a contrast to the manner in which the city is now so extensively 
lighted with gas, it may be mentioned tliat the first order for lighting the 
city was issued in 1697, by which the owners of houses were required to 
put lights in windows fronting the streets, under penalty of nine pence for 
each night of default. Afterwards, in the same year, it was ordered, 
" that every seventh house do hang out a pole with a lantern and candle ; 
and the said seven houses do pay an equal portion of the expense." 
I 



90 THE traveler's GUIDE. 



HISTORICAL. 



The city of New York was first settled by the Dutch, in 
1615, and by ihem called New Amsterdam. It came into 
the possession of the English in 1664, and was called New 
York, in honor of the Duke of York. The coast was first dis- 
covered by Sebastian Cabot, who was employed by Henry VII. 
of England, in 1497. In 1673 New York was retaken by 
the Dutch, but in the year following it again fell into the 
hands of the English, by whom it was retained until the 
Revolution. The first Dutch governor was Wouter Van 
T wilier, in 1629, who was succeeded by William Kreft, 
whose successor was Petrus Stuyvesant, the last of the Dutch 
governors. The history of these worthies is immortalized in 
Knickerbocker's history of New York. 

In 1683 the first colonial legislature was convened in New 
York. In 1765, a congress of deputies from the colonial as- 
semblies met in the same place to consult about grievances. 
In 1770, the liberty pole which had been set up by the citi- 
zens was cut down by soldiers. A new one was speedily 
erected, bound with iron. About the same time the assem- 
bly gave great offence by voting $5000 for the supply of the 
king's troops. Against this measure a strong address was 
published, signed " A Son of Liberty," which the assembly 
pronounced a malicious libel, and the author, Captain Mc- 
Dougall, was arrested, and detained in prison several months. 
In December, 1773, seventeen chests of tea, brought from a 
ship lying at Sandy Hook, were seized by citizens and 
thrown into the bay. In 1775, the assembly voted an address 
to the king, and formally disowned all ideas of independence. 
This measure induced the popular party, called the Sons of 
Liberty, to call a meeting, which eventuated in an appeal to 
force, in which the tories were put to flight by the patriots, 
armed with hoop-poles. 

Soon after this a part of General Lee's force entered the 
city, at which the inhabitants were greatly alarmed, as the 
British naval commandant had declared that he would fire 



OUTLINE OF NEW YORK. 91 

the city, if any continental troops entered it. To this Lee 
replied " that if the men-of-war should set one houge on fire 
in consequence of his coming, he would chain an hundred 
tories together by the neck, and make the house their funeral 
pile." 

The British subsequently took forcible possession of the 
city, and retained it until Nov. 25, 1783, when they finally 
evacuated it. This day has ever since been celebrated by a 
military procession. The 4th of December following, Wash- 
ington took leave of the officers of the army at Francis's Ho- 
tel. In 1789, the first congress under the new constitution, 
sit at New York, and Washington was sworn in as Presi- 
dent of the United States, by Chancellor Livingston. From 
this period, the city, which, at the time of its surrender by 
the British, was estimated to contain little more than 20,000 
people, has continued to advance in wealth and population, 
with a pace as steady as it has been rapid. According to the 
census of 1840, the present population is 312,234. 

New York is doubtless destined to continue, as it now is, 
the commercial metropolis of the United States. From its 
central position, its proximity to the sea, and favored with a 
harbor that can be entered at all seasons, and an extensive 
inland trade by means of its rivers, canals and rail-roads, its 
great facilities for commerce are unrivaled in this country, 
and perhaps in the world. 

In the year 1810, the valuation of real and personal estate 
was $25,486,370. In 1836, it was $309,500,000. It is now 
much greater. In 1656, the city contained but 120 houses. 

New York is the second commercial city in the world, as 
the amount of shipping owned here is equal to more than 
half that of London. The revenue collected at the Custom 
house is equal to about one-half the whole revenue of the 
Union from foreign commerce. Packets are starting almost 
daily for some one of the principal ports in foreign parts. 



92 



THE traveler's GUIDE. 



DISTANCES FROM THE CITY HALL, 
To Different Points in the City^ d^c. 



From the City Hall, 

To the Battery, south end 1 mile 

" " nortli end . . . J " 

Tothefoot of Cortland street. i " 

" " Barclay " | " 

" " Chambers " ^ " 

" Canal " 1 " 

To the Old State Prison Dock. li " 

To Fort Gansevoort '2 •' 

To the House of Refuge 2i " 

To Bellevue 2^ " 



From the Citv Hall, 

To the Dry Dock 2 miles. 

To Corlear's Hook IJ 

To Catharine st. Ferry | 

To Fulton St. Ferry i 

To U.S. Navy Yard If 

To Brooklyn, foot of Fulton 

street 1 

To Williamshiirgh 2 

To Jersey City 1^ 

To Hoboken 2 



New York is distant from — 

Bo.«ton 210 miles 

Providence 180 " 

New Haven 73 " 

Philadelphia 90 " 

Baltimore 190 " 

Washington 228 " 

Norfolk 329 " 

Charleston 6:0 " 

Havanna 1'85 " 

New Orleans 2047 " 



Hudson 115 miles. 

Albany 145 " 

Saratoga Springs 182 " 

Lake Georsre 210 " 

Canada Line 329 

Utica 239 " 

Buffalo (direct rouie) 357 " 

Montreal ..372 " 

Rochester 403 " 

Q,uebec 5i3 " 



HOURS OF STARTING TO VARIOUS POINTS. 

For Philadelphia, at 6 o'clock, A. M., by steam-boat Indepen- 
dence to Amboy, from Pier No. 1, North River. Also, at 
9 o'clock, A. M., and 4;^ P. M., from foot of Liberty street 
to Jersey City, and thence by New Jersey Rail-road. 
Daily. 

For Albany, at 7 o'clock, A. M., by steamers, foot of Barclay 
street, N. R. Also, at 5 and 7 o'clock, P. M., by steamers, 
foot of Cortland street, N. R. Daily. , 

For Boston, at 5 o'clock, P. M., via Stonington and Provi- 
dence ; also, by Norwich and Worcester, at same hour, 
from Pier No, 1, N. R. — Daily, Sundays excepted. 

For New Haven, Hartford, &c., at 6 o'clock, A. M., and 4 
o'clock, P. M., by steamers, foot of Beekman street, E. R., 
daily, Sundays excepted. 



RATES OF HAf KNEY COACHES, CARRIAGES AND CABS. 93 

For Bridgeport, at 6 o'clock, A. M., by steamers, at Cath- 
arine market, E. R. 
For Yonkers, Sing Sing, Peekskill, &c., by steamers, at 7 

o'clock, A. M., from Warren street, N. R. 
For Caldwell's, West Point, Newburg, &c., at 4 o'clock, P. 

M., from Warren street, N. R. 
For Paterson, N. J., by rail-road, as per arrangement — foot 
• of Cortland street, N. R. 
For Newark, N. J., by rail-road, foot of Cortland st., N. R., 

several times daily. 
For Hoboken, N. J., by steamers, every five minutes, from 

foot of Barclay street. 
For Stalen Island, every hour, from Whitehall slip. 
For New Brighton, Elizabethport, &c. &c., at 10^ A. M., 

and at 1, 3^ and 5 P. M., by steamers, from Pier No. 1, N. R. 
For Brooklyn, by the ferries at Walnut, Catharine, Fulton, 

and Whitehall streets, every few niinutes. 



RATES OF FARE FOR 

Hackney Coaches, Carriages or Cabs. 

1. For conveying a passenger any distance not exceeding 
one mile, 37^ cents; and for every additional passenger, 25 
cents. 

2. For conveying a passensfer any distance exceeding a 
mile, and within two miles, 50 cents; and for every addi- 
tional passenger, 25 cents. 

3. For convoying a passenger to the new Alms House, 
and returning, 75 cents ; and for every additional passenger, 
375 cents. 

4. For conveying one passenger to Fortieth street, and re- 
maining half an hour and returning, $1 ; and for every addi- 
tional passenger, 25 cents. 

5. For conveying one passenger to Sixty-first street, and 
remaining three quarters of an hour, and returning, $1 50; 
and for every additional passenger, 37^ cents. 

6. For conveying one passenger to the Croton Reservoir, 
Eighty-sixth street, and remaining an hour, and returning, 
$2] and for every additional passenger 50 cents. 



94 THE traveler's guide. 

7. For conveying- one or more passengers to Harlaem, and 
returning-, with the privilege of remaining three hours, $4. 

8. For conveying one or more passengers to Kingsbridge, 
and returning, with the privilege of keeping the carriage or 
cab all day, $5. 

9. For the use of a Hackney Coach, Carriage or Cab, by 
the day, with one or more passengers, ^5. 

10. For the use of a Hackney Coach, Carriage or Cab, liy 
the hour, with one or more passengers, with the privilege of 
going from place to place, and of stopping as often as may be 
required, as follows, viz : — for the first hour, $1 ; for the 
second hour, 75 cents ; and for every succeeding hour, .50cts. 

11. In all cases where the hiring of a Hackney Coach, 
Carriage or Cab, is not at the time thereof specified to be by 
the day or hour, it shall be deemed to be by the mile. 

12. For children between two and fourteen years of age, 
half price is only to be charged ; and for children under two 
years of age, no charge is to be made. 

13. Whenever a Hackney Coach, Carriage or Cab, shall 
be detained, excepting as aforesaid, the owner or driver shall 
be allowed after the rate of 75 cents for an hour ; 37^ cents 
for each and every subsequent hour, and so on in proportion 
for any part of the first and subsequent hour which the same 
may be so detained. 

1. In case of disagreement as to distance or price, the same 
shall be determined by the Mayor, or Superintendent of 
Hackney Coaches, Carriages and Cab^^. 

2. The owner of any Hackney Coach, Carriage or Cab, 
shall not demand or receive any pay for the conveyance of 
any passenger, unless the number of the Carriage, and the 
rates and prices of fare shall be fixed and placed in a manner 
hereinafter directed by section second of title fourth of this 
law, at the time such passenger may be conveyed in such 
Carriage or Cab. 

3. The owner or driver of any Hackney Coach, Carriage 
or Cab, shall not be entitled to recover or receive any pay , 
from any person from whom he shall have demanded any.| 
greater price or rates than he may be authorized to receive 
as aforesaid. 



RATES OF FARE. 95 

4. Upon the trial of any cause commenced for the recovery 
of any of the aforesaid prices or rates, it shall be incumbent 
upon the plaintiff or plaintiffs in such action, to prove that 
the number and prices or rates, were placed and fixed in 
pursuance of the provisions of this law, at the time the ser- 
vices were rendered, for which the suit may be broug-ht. 

5. Every driver or owner of a Hackney Coach, Carriage 
or Cab, shall carry, transport, and convey in and upon his 
Coach, Carriage or Cab, in addition to the person or persons 
therein, one trunk, valise, saddlebag, carpetbag, portman- 
teau, box, bundle, basket, or other articles used in traveling, 
if he be requested so to do, without charge or compensation 
therefor; but for every trunk or other such article as above 
named more than one, he shall be entitled to demand and 
receive the sum of 6 cents, if conveyed within the distance 
of one mile, and if more than one mile, the sum of 12^ 
cents. 

6. No owner or driver of any Hackney Coach, Carriage 
or Cab, in the city of New York, shall ask, demand, or re- 
ceive any larger sum than he or they may be entitled to re- 
ceive as aforesaid, under the penalty of $10 for every such 
offence, to be sued for and recovered from the owner or 
owners, or drivers of any such Hackney Coach, Carriage or 
Cab, severally and respectively. 

ISAAC H. BROWN, Superintendent, 83 Mott st. 

Office hours from 10 to 12, A. M, 



The following additional particulars, of especial interest to 
travelers, have also been politely furnished us by Mr. Super- 
intendent Brown, to whose kindness the compiler is much 
indebted, for the above regulations. 

The following rates of fare can be legally demanded, and 
no more, for conveying passengers to any of the places speci- 
fied below, viz . — 

From Philadelphia steam-boat landing. Pier No. 2, North 
River, to any of the Albany or New Haven boats, or any of 



96 THE traveler's guide. 

the Hotels m Broadway, (with a trunk for each passenger,) 
for one passenger 37^ cents, two passengers 62^ cents, 
three passengers STi cents, four passengers ^1 12^, five 
passengers $1 371. 

Passengers from Philadelphia, via Camden and Amboy, 
who are going to Boston, will find the Boston boats at the ad- 
joining wharf below. 

Passengers from Philadelphia, via New Jersey Rail-Road, 
which lands them at foot of Liberty street, will find the even- 
ing boat for Albany, at the next wharf above. From foot of 
Liberty street, to any of the Hotels in Broadway, the rate of 
fare is the same as above. 

From any of the Hotels in Broadway above Maiden Lane, 
to the People's Theatre, Bowery, the rates of fare are same 
as above. 

From the Philadelphia or Albany steam-boat landings, to 
the Bridgeport steam-boat, which leaves foot of Catharine 
street, daily, the legal rates (with a trunk for each passen- 
ger,) are as follows: one passenger 50 cents; two passen-, 
gers 75 cents ; three passengers $1 ; four passengers $1 25 ; ' 
five passengers $1 50. 

Passengers landing at New York, in any of the boats, who 
desire to procure a carriage or cab, should never employ any 
of the persons found crowding about the gangway, as these 
are in general a lawless set of fellows, not hack drivers them- 
selves, but the agents of others. The better way is to step 
ashore, and engage a driver who is with his carriage and 
horses. 

No owner or driver of any coach or cab can refuse to con- 
vey any passenger, on his tendering him the regular fare, as 
stated above, under the penalty of $10. 

Complaints for a violation of any of the above regulations 
should be made at the Mayor's office, No. 5 City Hall. Per- 
sons complaining are never detained over half an hour. 

The number on a hackney coach is on the rocker, under 
the door, and on the lamps. On a cab, it will be found on, 
or immediately over the door, and also on the lamps. 



' I 



\^' 







« 



r^ 



JUST PUBLISHED, 

[&\ ^^^ ^°^ ^^^® ^y •^A.MES Harmstead, No, 38| North Fourth [: 
r|||l street, Philadelphia, and by Booksellers generally, a 

III ?l^antr^JSoofe Uv Ev^^tUvn : 

^^i OR THE 

ITEAVELER'S GUIDEj 

^^|] BETWEEN 

III TMlaA^fel^Ma and liaVtimoYeyt 

Ifi By Steam-Boat and B.ail-BiOad : 

Jm CONTAINING 

f|e|i Brief Notices of Philadelphia, Chester, Wilmington, Elkton, 

\^jj Havre-de-Grace and Baltimore; descriptions of all the 

^^ points of interest on Iho whole route ; an account of the 

^^ JBattle of Red Bank; the old Swedes' Church, on Wil- 

tj^S mington Creek; Duck-Shooting -it Havre-de- Grace; to- 

fltJil §f6ther with a list of the principal Hotels in each city and 

f^ town ; rates of cab-hire ; various traveling rqiutes, and hours 

ll/V °^ starting; prominent public buildings, &c., and a great 

^.^ variety of other useful and valuable information. 

it^ BY BENJAMIN MATTHIAS. 

IImI) Iddmund Ferrett (froni Godcy & McMicha(!i's) lias taken tlio Store, \t 
yV'A ''JJ Soiitli Third St.. where lie oli'erd to the Public a selection of ^' 

|§J CHOICE WORKS, ELEGANTI4Y BOUND, 

P'.i^ Comprising every variety of price and style, suited to all ages and well 
I Ml fitted' for 

im\ Christmas and New Years' Gifts. 

\\fli ^^ ^^'"^^ ^'~" '''" fhundance of Eiitircly Ncav and 'bcantifully ' 

^f% Colored Toy BooIvS, at reniarKably low prices, and a collection ol'j 
^^ the Cheap Ijileratwre of the day, that will be augmented by all new ' 
^s9^ publications inimediatuly they are issued. A small bat good as^jortment 

f^ Of the Ziatest and most Popular K/Iusic, 

|OJ| and a stock of STATIONARY Oi that useful character required in every day j 
r|^' business ; all of which he can sell as low as any house in the city. 
HudI) il5'0rdcrs attended to with punctuality and despatch. 
^'l Address EDMUND FERRETT, 

i^'j<i* 72 South Third street, I'hiladelphia. 



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